BALDWIN, Calif. (BRAIN) — Benny Joseph Sr., a former owner of Crupi Parts, died Saturday at 79.
"Benny was instrumental in making Crupi the company that it is today," said Greg Swingrover, Crupi's current owner.
"When Don Crupi decided to start a BMX racing component company in the early '80s, he went straight to Benny Joseph and his machine shop in Arcadia, Calif., to have the parts made. Not only was Benny the original shop to make all of the Crupi CNC-machined parts in the '80s and '90s, but it was Benny's engineering influence that made the parts as good as they were."
Joseph took over the company from Crupi in the mid-'90s and then hired Swingover to run it for him in the late '90s.
"Many of you may remember Benny at the races as one of the nicest company owners anyone could meet. Benny and I traveled the USA in his favorite toy, his 40-foot Freightliner truck with the big Crupi on the side, as we would take it to many Nationals all over the country in the late '90s and early into the 2000s. Benny loved being at the races, meeting all of the BMX community, handing out stickers to the kids and showing off his great BMX parts on the custom displays he made for the races."
Swingrover bought the company from Joseph in 2006. Joseph is survived by five children, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
