William S. Epstein, a 45-year veteran of the promotional products industry, died on July 13, 2018. He was 87.

Epstein started in the industry at Pilgrim Plastics (asi/78100) as an intern in the Northeastern University co-op internship program. Upon graduation, he became a full-time employee at Pilgrim, working his way up to executive vice president. retiring in 1998. He was one of the founders of WRAPP-V (Worldwide, Roburn, Artmold, Pilgrim, Providence and Vitronic), the first traveling supplier group to award distributors’ volume sales within a particular period with incentive travel. Epstein served as chair of the PPAI Board, and also worked locally in the early years of NEPPA (SAANE). 

Patricia Dugan, vice president of sales and marketing at Budgetcard Inc. (asi/42393), worked with Epstein for over 30 years at Pilgrim. “He was my first mentor,” Dugan told Counselor. “He taught me how to do a great presentation and helped me break out of my shell."

Epstein was the devoted husband of Sarah Ethel Epstein, former husband of Myrna Epstein of Newton, brother to Judy and father to Marc and Annette, Amy and Paul, and Aaron. He had five grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or MDSC Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress.