Vincent Marotta | Mr. Coffee cofounder, 91

Vincent Marotta, 91, one of the cofounders of the iconic Mr. Coffee brand that helped revolutionize how Americans make their morning brew, died Saturday at his home in suburban Cleveland.

Mr. Marotta and his business partner and high school friend Samuel Glazer turned Mr. Coffee into a household name after asking two engineers to create a drip brewing system like those found in restaurants.

Mr. Marotta came up with the idea after his and Glazer's construction and shopping center development business was hurt by a slowdown in the real estate market.

Mr. Coffee helped make the percolator obsolete as the standard for home coffee brewing.

The brand's fortunes received a boost when Mr. Marotta persuaded retired New York Yankees star Joe DiMaggio to become the Mr. Coffee spokesman. Ironically, DiMaggio drank only instant decaffeinated coffee because of stomach problems. - AP