Don Lorenzo Servitje passed away on February 3 at the age of 98, surrounded by his extended family that included eight children, 24 grandchildren, and over 50 great-grandchildren.

"ABA extends its condolences and deepest sympathies to the entire Servitje family for the recent passing of Don Lorenzo Servitje,” said American Bakers Association president & CEO Robb MacKie. “We are all deeply honored and humbled to have been a part of Don Lorenzo’s extended baking family."

More than 70 years ago, Servitje and his brother Don Roberto founded a small bread bakery in Mexico City. Since its humble beginnings and guided by the principles of service to the community and purposeful work empowering lives, Grupo Bimbo grew into the leading baking company in the world. Despite the many successes, perhaps the greatest success is that Don Lorenzo’s values of giving back are being lived out by his children and grandchildren.

“The outpouring of support and countless stories of interactions with Don Lorenzo at his funeral are a testament to his contributions to his home in Mexico and the numerous countries in which Grupo Bimbo operates,” said MacKie. “A man of deep faith and commitment to family, he didn’t separate work from life, but believed that he was honor-bound to work as he lived and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.”

Along with his brother Don Roberto, Servitje was inducted into the prestigious Baking Hall of Fame in 2007. At the time, his son Daniel Servitje paid tribute to his father’s enormous work ethic and treatment of all Grupo Bimbo associates as part of his family.

“As an industry, we are so blessed to have so many people of honor, dignity and humility,” said MacKie. “When one thinks of the legends of the baking industry, from John Paterakis, George Deese, Pat Callaghan, Joe Schwebel and Don Lorenzo Servitje, one cannot help but to be inspired. They all have the common thread of serving their communities, customers and families with a purpose far greater than themselves.”