Shoestring News: RIP Paul Newman (and Newman's Own?)

This morning, I awoke in a haze—partly due to cold medicine, partly due to my pre-coffee detangling of last night's debate rhetoric—to the sad news that Paul Newman, actor and activist, passed away at age 83, after a long battle with cancer. Rest in peace, Cool Hand Luke. All our love and sympathy goes out to your family and friends.

Since the early 80s, Paul and his eponymous brand, Newman's Own, have been at the forefront of the natural foods and responsible consumerism movements, and, at Shoestring, we're enormous fans of Paul's body of work, not only as one of the best American actors in the history of Hollywood, but as a socially conscious entrepreneur. I would even venture so far as to say that the way he's handled his successes over the years have made him an idol of mine.

Paul and Newman's Own have made high-quality, all-natural foods and products available to the masses for almost 25 years, and now, like our economy, the Newman's Own future is unclear, which infinitely saddens me and is a double blow on a dreary Saturday. My cabinets are stocked with the likes of Newman's Own dog food, which was a security blanket last year during the pet food contamination scare and eventual recall, and Newman's Own salad dressing, which comforts me during what seems to be a never-ending quest to regain my coed figure before turning 30. Just as his smart, anti-hero films were a touchstone during my rebellious, brooding teens and early twenties, his brand was a go-to during the early years of the "green" trend.

Paul's foodstuffs are just like he was: accessible to anyone, anywhere; equally high brow and rough-and-tumble; both classic and cutting edge. We're hoping his family and his executive team will choose to let his likeness and legacy survive, even, and especially, as we mourn his passing.

Support Paul Newman's family company and charitable causes, while at the same time supporting the news you love from Shoestring and Bargainista, by shopping for Newman's Own products through any advertisement in this post.

Comments

[Louise Cady-Fernandes]

I love your blog and just signed up! It's right up my alley. I can't wait to read more :-)