- Ernesto Illy
Ernesto Illy (
July 18 1925 –February 3 2008 ) was an Italianfood chemist and business man, known as the chairman of the Illycaffè S.p.A coffee manufacturer. [Dennis Hevesi, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/world/europe/06illy.html Ernesto Illy, Chairman of Coffee Company, Is Dead at 82] fromNew York Times ]Born in
Trieste , he was the son of the Hungarian-Italian chocolate maker,Francesco Illy , also aWorld War I officer, who had established the espresso making company (1933). Ernesto studiedchemistry atUniversity of Bologna (1947) and immediately joined Illy, and later took over the company from his father (1956). Ernesto created a high-tech manufacturing process, specializing in the making ofespresso coffee, for which he also was anevangelist . He was chairman of Illy 1963-2004 and then honorary chairman. Ernesto Illy took part in the establishment ofAssociation Scientifique Internationale pour le Café (chairman, 1991-).He was married to Anna Rossi. The Illy company is run by their son
Andrea Illy (born 1964), [R. W. Apple, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CE3D71731F937A15753C1A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 Discovering la Dolce Vita in a cup] fromNew York Times (Oct 24, 2001)] and among the board members are the daughterAnna Illy and sonRiccardo Illy (born 1955), who has also been mayor ofTrieste and is now President ofFriuli-Venezia Giulia region. The third son, Francesco is also involved.Awards
*
Cavaliere del Lavoro of Italy (Knight of Industry, 1994)
* honorary doctorates and masters degrees (such asUniversity of Udine , 2005) [ [http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/coffeeatthemoment/02-04-2008 coffeegeek.com] ]
*Centromarca brand organization (president, 1996-)
*Specialty Coffee Association of America (S.C.A.A.). "Lifetime Achievement Award" (1997)
*Monte Carmelo (Brazil) county (honorary citizenship, 2002)
*International Coffee Organization , London (chairman of the promotion committee, 2002-)
*Anacafè member of the order, Flor del Cafè (Guatemala, 2004).References
External links
* [http://news.scotsman.com/obituaries/Ernesto-Illy.3793908.jp The Scotsman: Ernesto Illy]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/world/europe/06illy.html New York Times: Ernesto Illy, Chairman of Coffee Company, Is Dead at 82]
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