Bio-Rad Founder David Schwartz Dies at 88

The largest shareholder of Hercules-based Bio-Rad Laboratories, and the company’s founder, David Schwartz, died April 1. Schwartz, 88, leaves behind a legacy of smart business moves and the question of who will run his former company in the years ahead.

According to a Bloomberg article published Tuesday, Schwartz, was against selling his company, which has remained controlled by his family. Son Norman Schwartz has been Chief Executive Officer for BioRad since 2003. Schwartz’s wife and Bio-Rad co-founder Alice Schwartz sits on the company’s board.

Dougherty & Co analyst Junaid Husain told Bloomberg, “that the day David Schwartz passes away is the day this company is in play," while treasurer Ron Hutton told the news org that the Schwartz “family has always averred that the company would remain independent and the family would continue their involvement…”