Edward Bransten was born in 1906 to Edward Brandenstein (b. 1870-d. 1948) and Florine (Haas) Brandenstein (b. 1881-d. 1973). Edward spent 56 years working in the family's coffee business (MJB Coffee), serving as the company's president and then as honorary chairman before the company was sold to Nestle in 1985. Edward Bransten married Cathryn Scheeline in 1938. Cathryn's parents were Harry Scheeline and Norma Fox. Edward and Cathryn had three children, Patricia (b. 1940), Carol (b. 1944), and Barbara (b. 1951). In addition to his work at MJB, Edward participated in a number of philanthropic activities. He served as the chairman of the Jewish Community Relations Council board between 1966 and 1976 and he set up the first regional office of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee during the Yom Kippur War in 1967. Cathryn, for her part, served on the board of directors of the Jewish Community Center in San Francisco, on the board of directors of Mount Zion Hospital from 1967 to 1968, and 1976 to 1981, and was president of the Mount Zion women's auxiliary from 1967 to 1969.
From the description of Edward and Cathryn Bransten family papers and photographs, 1880-1980. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 671790250
