East raymond chairman Vijaypat SinghaniaA corporate titan and record-setting aviator who embodied his brand’s famous tagline, ‘The Complete Man’, died in Mumbai on Saturday evening. He was 87 years old. He was admitted on Friday after his health declined due to age-related illness. His last rites will be performed at Chandanwadi crematorium on Sunday. Singhania, who hails from a prominent business family, served as the CMD of Raymond for more than two decades.Made a world record by flying in a hot air balloon at the age of 67A former Sheriff of Mumbai, Singhania was also an avid aviator.Vijaypat Singhania’s family acquired the company from ED Sassoon & Company in 1944, when it was primarily a manufacturer of woolen blankets. Under his leadership, Raymond grew into a diversified conglomerate that expanded into synthetic fabrics, denim, steel, industrial files and cement, becoming one of India’s most recognized clothing brands.During the latter years of his presidency, the company faced financial stress as the recession affected its steel and cement businesses, which were eventually sold. He later handed over the leadership to his son Gautam Singhania and remained the chairman emeritus for some time.He is survived by his wife Ashadevi and children Gautam, Madhupati and Shefali Ruia. His relationship with Madhupati became strained over the division of business and in later years he also had disagreements with Gautam over some properties.In November 2005, at the age of 67, he set a world record by climbing to a height of 69,000 feet in a hot air balloon, taking off from Mumbai Racecourse in a pressurized capsule and landing near Nashik after about five hours of flight.