Joseph Magnin Co.'s Donald Magnin Dies
Retailer Donald Magnin, who worked with his family to develop the Joseph Magnin Co. chain of women’s stores, died in San Francisco on July 13 after a long battle with cancer. He was 84.
Magnin was part of a multi-generational family that had retailing in its blood. His great-grandfather Isaac Magnin and great-grandmother Mary Ann Magnin started I. Magnin & Co. department stores in 1877. His grandfather Joseph started Joseph Magnin Co. in 1915. It expanded into 32 stores.
Donald Magnin worked with his father, Cyril Magnin; brother Jerry; brother-in-law Walter Newman; and sister Ellen Magnin Newman to grow the specialty-store chain, known for its cutting-edge clothes. Donald Magnin was the chain’s executive vice president and general merchandise manager when it was sold in 1969 to Amfac Inc. of Hawaii, which eventually closed the stores in 1984 after declaring bankruptcy.
