Robert George Hepp, who founded University Wholesalers in 1983 and later worked with Nokian Tyres, has died.
A resident of Medway, Mass., Hepp was born in 1952 in New Britain, Conn. According to his obituary, he grew up in Plainville, Conn., with his parents, four siblings and many cousins, “where he fostered his love of family, fast cars and Polish food.”
A graduate of the University of Connecticut, Hepp began his tire industry career in 1978, managing a Firestone store. Under his direction, University Wholesalers, which was based in Vermont, developed into a $40 million a year business before it was acquired by Nokian in 2005. Following the acquisition, Hepp served as a vice president at Nokian until his retirement.
“Bob was a passionate brand ambassador who was well-known for his persuasive, educational dealer seminars,” according to a statement from Nokian. “He served as a trusted voice to customers and media, advocating for the importance of winter tires and telling the Nokian Tyres story.”
A friend of Hepp’s wrote that “Bob’s true passion went beyond business. Over the years, he conducted hundreds of seminars for tire dealers – sharing his knowledge, insights and enthusiasm for the industry. These seminars become legendary among those in the business – not just for the depth of information but for Bob’s engaging and approachable teaching style. To many, he wasn’t just a wholesaler. He was a mentor, a trusted partner and a friend.”
“Bob’s legacy can be seen every day in our business,” says Nokian Tyres North America Vice President of Sales Tommi Heinonen. “But more importantly, Bob was a great colleague and friend who was always taking care of the big picture and us, as a team and individuals.”
Preceded by his parents, Richard and Olga Hepp, and brother, Richard, Hepp is survived by his wife, Sandra; daughter, Erica, and her husband, Young; daughter, Megan, and her husband, Ben; siblings, Nancy, Lynn and Ronald; two grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heritage Museum or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
