C. Charles Marran, 90, former president of the Spencer Shoe Co. in Boston, MA, died on December 7 following a brief illness. He began his lengthy career at the tender age of six when a neighbour helped him find a job sweeping out a shoe store in Chicago, where he worked his way up to manager. A recruiter from Spencer Shoes noticed Mr Marran and invited him to go to Boston and join Spencer in the late 1930s.

In the 1940s, following two years in Naval intelligence, he was named vice president of the company and in 1954 the board of directors named him president.

Mr Marran was one of the founders of the Two Ten International Footwear Foundation, a philanthropic organisation, and often gave lectures at Harvard Business School, Dartmouth and Boston College.

Following his retirement as president of the company he served as a consultant until 2003, ending an 82-year career.