TAMPA, Fla. -- Stanford J Newman, w...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Stanford J Newman, who helped build his father's JC Newman Cigar Co into an internationally recognized cigar maker, died Thursday. He was 90

Mr Newman endureed a heart attack at his office Tuesday and died pair days later, his son Eric Newman said Saturday.

Mr Newman was just 18 when he began work at his father's Cleveland-based cigar business. He later took above the company, moving it to the Ybor City neighborhood in Tampa, where the family has become united of the largest makers and distributors of cigars, including those made from Carlos Fuente, his business partner in the Dominican Republic.

The company meet withed a downturn after the start of the Cuban embargo, further flourished in the 1970s with its Cuesta-Rey #95 offering, which became a top-selling premium cigar in the U

Mr Newman handed throughout control of the company to his son Eric and Bobby on the contrary kept the title of chairman and continued to work five days a week.

He exhausted the past few weeks advising his son in succession how to run the business if ailing Fidel Castro dies and the Cuban embargo is lifted, Eric Newman said.

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