George Shaw; Sassoon Firm Publicist, Philanthropist

George Shaw, publicist and philanthropist who worked to promote Vidal Sassoon products commercially and Jewish education projects privately, has died. He was 71.

Shaw, who was Sassoon’s vice president of public relations for more than 20 years, died Aug. 23, the Sassoon company announced.

As president of the Vidal Sassoon Foundation, Shaw established several scholarship programs, including the Vidal Sassoon Headstart to Success Program in the United States and the Vidal Sassoon Adopt-a-Student Program to educate Ethiopian refugees in Israel.

A devout Jew, Shaw was co-founder with the head of the hair products company of the Vidal Sassoon Center for the Study of Anti-Semitism and Other Related Bigotries at Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In addition to promoting the Sassoon name and label through philanthropic endeavors, Shaw handled hands-on publicity, including advancing the company’s presence in Asia.

Shaw is survived by two children, Carlos and Patricia, and two grandchildren.