Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 2, 2003
Retailer Arthur Garfunkel
Staunton, Va. — Retailer and consultant Arthur Garfunkel has died here. He was 76.
Garfunkel was a marketing consultant in the wholesale furniture business in North Carolina until he moved to Staunton in the mid-1980s. In 1986, he opened Arthur's, an international home furnishings and accessories business, as well as a mail-order catalog operation. He was active in the business at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Memorials may be made to the Arthur T. Garfunkel Scholarship Fund at Guardian Angel Academy, 300 Churchville Ave., Staunton, Va. 24401.
Fabric exec Melvyn Blutter
Chicago — Veteran fabric sales executive Melvyn Blutter has died at 86.
Blutter spent 45 years as Midwest sales manager for Cohama, a division of United Merchants and Manufacturers. He worked primarily with Sears, including the furniture, bedding, window covering and other departments.
"Mel Blutter was the dean of piece goods salesmen and epitomized the highest standards of salesmanship during the 'Golden Age' of Midwestern textiles," said Howard Rosenblum, a sales representative for Richloom who was a longtime friend of Blutter. "He was my friend and my mentor."
After he retired from Cohama, Blutter formed his own firm, Rettulb Corp., representing such companies as Richloom, Belding Hausman, Steiger of Switzerland and others. He retired about six years ago.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Blutter, and daughter Janet Shiff, who are partners in Blutter/Shiff Design, an interior design firm. Other survivors include a son and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Assn. or other charity.
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