August 7, 2015
Dear Friends –
It is with great sadness that I am writing to tell you that our founder and president Larry Vierling passed away on July 27th. As you may know, Larry was a warm and generous person with a big heart who cared greatly about his customers and his employees.
Larry’s story is certainly an inspiring one. He was born and raised in Manhattan by a single mother with very humble means. He told me that in his early years he was on the street getting into trouble, but as a teenager he realized he needed to do something to keep off that path. He joined the U.S. military and served in Korea and upon his return joined the NYPD. He earned the rank of detective before retiring after 15 years of service. Clearly though, Larry had an entrepreneurial spirit because shortly thereafter he began a Tropicana route, a vacuum cleaner business, and a trucking business, among others that didn’t quite stick.
I first met him in 1991 when we both were working in a NYC natural foods store. I was the buyer and Larry, who was a longtime friend of the owner, was helping out with everything. One of his jobs was taking care of orders and deliveries to the health food restaurants in New York in need of organic ingredients. Over time, the store owner sought to drop the delivery business and Larry saw the opportunity to make it a business of his own, and that he did. He essentially started Ace Natural out of his garage in Rockland County, NY working all positions by himself. He was the salesman, buyer, customer service phone rep. and delivery guy all in one. Through his motto of “treat the customers like gold,” he built Ace Natural into the high service, successful business of today that employs over thirty people.
For many years he kept the business small. “Small is beautiful” was his common refrain, but as the overall organic business grew, he saw the potential and need to be bigger. Larry’s self-professed best talent was spotting the right people for the business and investing in those relationships. He was one of the best judges of character I have ever known, and from very early on, he surrounded himself with talented and passionate workers whom he spoiled with his generosity. It is a testament to his spirit as a leader and a boss that he had so many folks devote so much time to helping the business grow. Today we have multiple staff members who have worked at Ace ten, twelve, fifteen and even seventeen years! Anyone in business today will be amazed by this fact.
While running the business, Larry also kept in touch with old work friends and business associates, partly because he never knew when working together again would be beneficial for both, and partly because of his sincere and caring nature. After having gone my separate way for some years, I was fortunate to be one of those he had kept in touch with and when the timing was right I joined Ace Natural…first as an employee, and then as a partner. In our early years together, I quickly learned the Ace style of always going the extra mile and doing whatever it takes to get the job done for the customer. Together he and I forwarded this foundation of caring for the customer and the employees and forged a lasting and fruitful relationship. Eventually, Larry generously gave me the opportunity to steer the ship. He treasured Ace and I will be forever grateful for his trust in me to run it. I have been truly lucky to call him a co-worker, a friend, a boss, and a partner.
He leaves behind not only a great business legacy but also a beautiful family legacy. He and his wife of 46 years, Diana, had two loving daughters, Dawn and Donna, and seven wonderful grandchildren. I have seen first-hand the love and closeness that is in his family and how much Larry loved and appreciated all of them. Fortunately, they were all able to be together until the end. That is a beautiful thing. I know he loved two things in his life fiercely: his family and Ace Natural
We are all in mourning these days but I know that Larry would not want us to be. I am sad because I will miss him, but I agree with him. We should celebrate this great life. I, for one, am awed by it. As Ace staffer, Allison, wrote to me upon hearing of his passing “our mission now seems more compelling as we honor his memory through our work.” That is what we will do.
Thank you for everything Larry! Onwards and upwards Guy!!
All our best to you,
Tor
Email
Facebook
Twitter