August 19

Otto Frank was born in Frankfurt in 1889 and established a successful spice trading business in Amsterdam. He was the father of Anne Frank and the sole survivor of the Frank family after their time in hiding during World War II. After the war, he discovered and edited Anne’s diary, leading to its publication in 1947. His efforts brought worldwide attention to his daughter’s account and to the human impact of the Holocaust. He dedicated the remainder of his life to preserving Anne’s legacy and promoting tolerance and human rights. Otto Frank died in Switzerland in 1980, remembered as a guardian of one of history’s most poignant memoirs.

Born in 1948, Lars Larsen opened his first JYSK store in Aarhus in 1979, initially specializing in mattresses. Under his vision and hands-on leadership, JYSK expanded rapidly across Europe and beyond, becoming a household name in home furnishings. Known for his frugal business style and direct marketing approach, Larsen maintained a strong personal brand embodied by his television commercials. By the time of his death in 2019, JYSK operated in over 50 countries with thousands of stores. A philanthropist at heart, Larsen supported local sports clubs and community initiatives in Denmark. His entrepreneurial spirit continues to guide the company's growth under the Lars Larsen Group.