Obituary: Elkay Plastics founder Louis Kestenbaum

Louis Kestenbaum, who began Elkay Plastics Co. in 1968 and was a founder of what is now the Western Plastics Association, died Feb. 14 at the age of 93. A service for Kestenbaum, known as “Papa Lou,” took place Feb. 15 at Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was a founder and former president of the California Film Extruders and Converters Association, now operating as the Western Plastics Association. Kestenbaum, with a small group of other plastics company owners, formed CFECA in 1973 in an effort to deal with government regulations. Commerce, Calif.-based Elkay Plastics manufactures and supplies plastic bags and has distribution sites in Austell, Ga.; Bensenville, Ill.; Carrollton, Texas; Aurora, Colo.; Phoenixville, Pa.; Hayward, Calif.; and Kent, Wash.