Global Fastener News

(l-r) son Neal Rosenstein, wife Gladys Miller-Rosenstein, Puffin Prize winner Colin Kaepernick and Perry Rosenstein in 2017.

Brighton-Best Socket Screw Mfg. co-founder Perry Rosenstein, 94, died April 3 from COVID-19, the New Jersey Globe reports.

His company, which he sold in 2008 to a consortium of Taiwanese investors led by Ta Chen International president Robert Shieh, became Brighton-Best International, the largest fastener importer in North America.

“Sad new for us old timers that had the privilege to know Perry,” stated Don Haggerty of Stelfast.

“This is terrible news, especially for those of us at Brighton,” added BBI president Jun Xu.  “I can only say that we would not be where we are today without the work Perry put into BBSSMI.  It was an incredible platform to build off of.  We are humbled and proud to carry on a part of his legacy in the work we do everyday.”

Rosenstein was born in the Bronx to Polish emigrants “who instilled in him a tremendous work ethic and a passion for social justice,” his website biography said.  He served in the South Pacific during World War II and and graduated from Indiana University, after which he earned a masters degree from Long Island University.

Rosenstein started his post-college career as a school teacher. 

“The experience of learning to be a teacher” was excellent training for his career in fasteners, Rosenstein told GlobalFastenerNews.com in 2007.

His first fastener job was with Globe Bolt & Screw Co.  He then joined Stevens Socket Screw Co., which was later bought out by MSL Industries and became a part of Heads & Threads.  Rosenstein then became a VP of Heads & Threads.

A handwritten invoice from Rosenstein in 1971

Stanley Sevell and Rosenstein founded Best Socket Screw Co. in New York City in 1965.  Three years later they formed Brighton-Best Socket Screw when they acquired Brighton Screw Co. of Cincinnati and merged the names.  Brighton-Best grew to a major supplier of inch and metric hexagon alloy socket screws.

After retiring in 2008, Rosenstein gave even more attention to his foundations.  He told GlobalFastenerNews.com he donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to support the arts in New York, New Jersey and Ohio.

“We support the arts – especially those by ‘people with beliefs, color or gender which are out of the mainstream.’”

In 1983, Rosenstein founded the Puffin Foundation, a Teaneck-based progressive non-profit that he self-funded to provide over 400 grants for the arts and culture.  He also created the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, which preserved the history of Americans who fought against Franco and fascism, and started an awards program that recognized individuals and groups that impact human rights.  The Puffin Gallery for Social Activism is a permanent exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York.

Puffin reportedly provided $100,000 annually to the National Associates for a creative citizenship award.  Recipients included Reverend Barber, Ben Jealous, Colin Kaepernick, the Parkland Students, and the Sunrise Movement.

Another Rosenstein favorite foundation, Teaneck Creek Conservancy, turned garbage dumps into parks or wetlands where birds return to nest.

His philanthropy was all a part of “giving back” from his successful career and in fighting global warming and pollution, he told GlobalFastenerNews.com.

Click here to visit the Facebook page created by the Puffin Foundation to celebrate Rosenstein’s life.