days shy of his 100th birthday. References Fornek, Scott. (2006, July 12). Built Helene Curtis into $1 bil. business. The Chicago Sun-Times Associated Press. (2006, July 14). Gerald Gidwitz, 99, Helene Curtis Founder. The New York Times, p. C9 Jensen, Trevor. (2006, July 15). Gerald Gidwitz, 99; Helped Start Cosmetics Maker Helene Curtis. The Los Angeles Times 1906 births 2006 deaths University of Chicago alumni 20th-century American businesspeople