Thomas Stemberg | Staples founder, 66

Thomas Stemberg, 66, a former grocery business executive who founded Staples Inc. and revolutionized the office supplies retail business, died Friday, Oct. 23, at his home in Massachusetts of cancer.

Stemberg was a New England grocery executive but left after a dispute with his bosses. He came up with the idea of Staples after searching unsuccessfully for printer ribbon on July Fourth weekend in 1985 when stores were closed.

Staples grew into a chain with $22.5 billion in revenue and 83,000 employees last year. It was among the first big-box stores that applied price pressure on competitors and lured shoppers from downtown stores and shopping malls. - AP