Obituary
Stan Watson, Co-founder of Renew Life and Vital Planet, Dies at 64
On March 4, Stan Watson, 64, co-founder of Renew Life and Vital Planet, died at his home in Palm Harbor, FL. Born on Aug. 20, 1961 in Mount Airy, NC, Watson grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where “the values of hard work and community were instilled in him early on.” ...
Lee Archer, Founder of New Wave Enviro Products, Dies at 83
On Dec. 25, 2025, Lee Archer, founder of New Wave Enviro Products (Greenwood Village, CO), died at his home in Colorado at age 83. Archer founded New Wave Enviro in 1993 alongside his friend and business associate, Leigh Caudill. Together, they were guided by a simple and powerful vision: to provide clean, healthy drinking water ...
American BioSciences Mourns Passing of Dr. James D. Watson
American BioSciences (Blauvelt, NY) mourns the passing of Dr. James D. Watson, the renowned molecular biologist and geneticist, who died in East Northport, NY on Nov. 6, 2025, at age 97. “I had the honor of collaborating with the lab under the direction of Jim over a five-year period. I enjoyed our many conversations, and ...
AHPA President Michael McGuffin Dies at 73
On Feb. 17, 2025, longtime American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) President Michael McGuffin died at age 73. According to a memorial posted on the AHPA website, for 25 years, McGuffin served as the association’s president, leaving behind an indelible mark on the natural products industry through his steadfast advocacy for reasonable regulations and proactive self-governance. ...
Scott Seering, CMO of Lotus Brands, Dies at 70
Scott W. Seering, chief marketing officer (CMO) of Lotus Brands (Twin Lakes, WI) died on Jan. 23, at age 70. He died suddenly while driving his car. “It was indeed an honor having Scott as my friend these past 25 years. It is a true loss for all of us. My best to Barb and ...
A Spark Everlasting: Celebrating an Industry Champion, Renee Southard
“To grow older doesn’t mean to grow old,” Renee Southard once told me with a knowing smile. That philosophy, rooted in her boundless energy and passion for life, guided everything she did—as a mother, a friend, a SENPA leader, and the owner of Organic Marketplace in Gastonia, NC. Renee was a force of nature, blending ...
In Memoriam: Renee Southard, Owner of Organic Marketplace and Former SENPA President
Renee Carpenter Southard, owner of Organic Marketplace in Gastonia, NC, and former president of SENPA, died on Jan. 17, at age 68. “It is with broken hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of the heart of Organic Marketplace Renee Carpenter Southard. We are understandably reeling as a family at our sudden loss ...
In Memoriam: James Gormley, Former VR Editor/Writer and Natural Products Industry Consultant
On Aug. 14, 2024, former Vitamin Retailer (VR) editor and industry consultant James J. Gormley died at age 61 in Delray Beach, FL from natural causes. Gormley was an award-winning journalist, blogger, writer and editor specializing in medicine, health, nutrition and dietary supplements. He was a frequent contributor for various natural product industry trade publications and ...
Natural Products Industry Mourns Loss of Sally J. Byrd, ND
On July 18, 2024, Sally J. Byrd, ND, ACC, MCC died at age 66 in Flagler Beach, FL. In addition to her work as a naturopathic doctor, Byrd was the owner of Earthwave Travel in Flagler Beach. She spent many years traveling domestically and internationally throughout her career. On her website, she described her focus ...
Bob Moore, Founder of Bob’s Red Mill, Dies at 94
On Feb. 10, 2024, Bob Moore, founder of Bob’s Red Mill (Milwaukie, OR), died at his home in Oregon at age 94. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our Founder, Bob Moore, left this world today, February 10, 2024. He was 94 years old and full of the same love ...
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