Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 24, 2009
Frank Boschwitz, furniture sales rep
Boca Raton, Fla. — Frank Boschwitz, a longtime sales representative and industry association officer in New York and New Jersey before his retirement, has died. He was 85.
Associates said he was known as the "lollipop man" because of the sweet treats he handed out to buyers and floor salespeople.
He represented companies including Marad Wall Décor, Metal Weave, Sculptured Lamps of California, Lynard Lamps of California, Garcia Imports, Contemporary Shelves and Johnston Casuals.
Boschwitz was born in Berlin, Germany, and was there during Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass) in 1938. His father died in a concentration camp. Later, Frank came to the United States.
He was an active member of industry associations in New York and was instrumental in helping to form the Greater New York Home Furnishings Assn., merged from rep and retail groups. He also was a district governor of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn.
He was recognized by the GNYHFA in 1979 for his exceptional efforts on behalf of the organization, and that same year was honored by the furniture and allied industries division of the Anti Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. He was named a Dean of IHFRA in 1988, and received the Metropolitan Furnishings Assn.'s Distinguished Service Award in 1998.
He is survived by his wife; a son; daughter Abby Boschwitz Feigen, a sales rep in greater Philadelphia; a son-in-law; and two granddaughters.
Bill Steinhafel, co-owner of Steinhafels
Sanibel, Fla. — Retired furniture retailer William F. "Bill" Steinhafel, a member of the family that owns Waukesha, Wis.-based Top 100 company Steinhafels Furniture, has died. He was 79.
He attended Marquette University and served in the 1st Marine Division during the Korean War.
Bill, along with his brothers Jim and John and sisters Elaine and Mary, owned the Steinhafels stores in Wisconsin, which are still under family ownership.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; six children, among whom are Steve and Tom Steinhafel of Steinhafels and Chris Steinhafel, a Dallas-based sales representative for Ekornes and other lines; 17 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, his brother John and sisters Elaine and Mary.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.
Friends may sign the guest book at www.Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz.com.
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