Bove, Joan (1901–2001)

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Bove, Joan (1901–2001)

American entrepreneur. Name variations: Joan Gelb. Born Oct 24, 1901; died July 21, 2001, in Stamford, Connecticut; m. Lawrence M. Gelb (manufacturer, div., died 1980); m. twice more; 3rd husband was Emilio Bove (executive with Alitalia); children: Richard L. Gelb (once chair of Bristol-Myers Squibb and former director of The New York Times Co.); Bruce Gelb (American ambassador to Belgium).

With husband, discovered a hair dye in Paris (1931) and co-founded the Clairol company; while serving as its president (1931–40), traveled the nation giving demonstrations, successfully taking the onus off dyed hair which was then considered vulgar.

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