Ned Shure, co-founder of Ned’s Bookstores, died Nov. 10 of cancer in Ann Arbor.
Shure, 58, began selling books in 1967 at the University of Michigan. He was the first to sell used books to students at U-M.
Born on Dec. 19, 1942 in New York, Shure was attending U-M when he had the idea to start the business.
Shure started the business with his brother Fred Shure, and eventually his brother-in-law Jack Barenfanger joined them.
The business expanded to MSU, Concordia College Ann Arbor, the University of California and Wayne County Community College because of Barenfanger’s addition.
Fred Shure died on Jan 3, 2000 of cancer also, leaving the business to Ned Shure. Ned Shure sold the stores to Nebraska Book Company, Inc. last year.
Daughter Chelsea Shure said her father’s beginning to the book business began modestly.
“They initially started out selling books out of the back of a van,” she said.
After the business had been sold, Ned Shure spent much of his time traveling the world and working to raise money for several charities.
“He loved to travel, cancer didn’t stop him from doing very naughty things like eating the street food and dancing until the wee hours,” Chelsea Shure said. “He used the same energy in the bookstore that he did in fund raising.”
Chelsea Shure said Ned Shure’s love of students was part of the reason he started the business.
“He said they kept him young even though he was still balding,” she said.
Ned Shure’s wife, Jan Onder, said he was a generous, loving man.
“It is hard not to use superlatives when you talk about Ned,” she said in an e-mail statement. “He loved his family and many close friends.”
Ken Kerbyson, store manager for The College Store, 4790 S. Hagadorn Road, said he had been a friend of his for 21 years.
Kerbyson had worked for Ned’s Book Store, 135 E. Grand River Ave., for 19 years., leaving after the chain was purchased by Nebraska Book Company, Inc.
He said the East Lansing store had opened up in the early ’90s.
“He was very vibrant, outgoing, energetic and giving,” he said. “Ned was an individual that touched many lives and he will be sorely missed.”
