I was saddened to hear that Ralph Bronner, the son of eccentric soap giant "Dr." Emanuel H. Bronner, died on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack. He was 78.
Ralph, who served as the multi-million dollar soap company’s vice president and spokesman, lived in Menomonee Falls even though Dr. Bronner’s Soap Company is based in California.
He was a generous, outgoing man who continued to spread the Good Word through soap and was known by many Milwaukeeans – including myself – because of his frequent visits, with soap samples and bumper stickers, to shops and bars.
His family released this statement today: "Ralph loved people, singing songs, giving hugs, telling jokes and pumping people up on just how great his father’s soaps and message of peace was. Thank you, Uncle Ralph, for being so awesome, we love you and will miss you sorely!"
I spent an afternoon in Ralph’s living room in 2006 and heard the incredibly fascinating and tragic story of his father’s life and how the quirky soap company came to rise. You can read it here.
RIP, Ralph. Our memories of you will never wash away.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
