Leon Feffer
Leon Feffer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1902-11-27 Ukraine |
| Died | 1999-02-07 |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Suzano Papel e Celulose |
Leon Feffer (1902–1999) was a prominent Brazilian entrepreneur and the founder of Suzano Papel e Celulose.
Biography
Born on November 27, 1902, Feffer hailed from a Ukrainian Jewish family originally from Rovno, Ukraine (with some accounts indicating Kolki, Ukraine). His parents were Bertha (née Brandes) and Simpson Feffer. Due to escalating anti-Semitism, his father emigrated to Brazil in 1910, initially working as a stationery peddler in the regions of São Paulo and Mato Grosso. By 1920, he had accumulated sufficient savings to bring his family over to Brazil.
Leon’s initial business effort involved producing candles; however, this venture was unsuccessful because of the widespread adoption of electricity in São Paulo. On June 15, 1923, he established a paper distribution company that imported and sold paper domestically. Following a fire at a local paper mill, he purchased damaged but usable paper rolls, which proved profitable during the Great Depression when Brazil imposed import restrictions. He then diversified into printing and envelope production, creating one of the nation’s largest envelope manufacturing operations.
In 1939, Feffer divested his holdings to finance the construction of a paper mill located in São Paulo’s Ipiranga neighborhood, utilizing imported pine pulp as raw material. By 1946, this enterprise was named Indústria de Papel Leon Feffer (IPLF). Encouraging his son Max's involvement, they explored alternative local fiber sources; Max worked alongside biologists from the University of Florida and determined eucalyptus pulp could serve as an effective substitute. That same year, Feffer acquired Indústria de Papel Euclides Damiani and progressively incorporated eucalyptus fiber into production.
The company adopted the name Suzano Papel e Celulose in 1956. Expansion continued with the purchase of Indústria de Papel Rio Verde in 1960. By 1961, Suzano’s products were made entirely from eucalyptus pulp. This breakthrough shifted Brazil’s paper industry from relying on cellulose imports to becoming an exporter. Under Feffer’s guidance, Suzano grew to become Latin America’s second-largest integrated paper producer.
Philanthropy
Feffer held the presidency of Colégio Renascença, a Jewish educational institution, from 1939 until 1962. He played a key role in establishing A Hebraica in São Paulo in 1953, which at that time was the largest Jewish social club worldwide. Between 1956 and 1964, he served as Israel’s honorary consul in São Paulo. Additionally, in 1959, he financed the development of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein situated in São Paulo’s Morumbi district.
Personal life
He was married to Antonietta Teperman and fathered two children: Max (1926–2001) and Fanny (1930–2017). Leon Feffer died on February 7, 1999.
In 1995, Forbes Magazine ranked him as Brazil’s fifth wealthiest individual with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion US dollars.