Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 21, 2006
Leo F. Grant, industry veteran
Oldsmar, Fla. — Leo F. Grant, who worked in the industry for some 40 years as a sales representative, wholesaler and retailer, has died after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 76.
Known as "Skip" and "Gop" to his friends, family and associates, Grant graduated from Fordham University and served in the Army, then worked in retail at Macy's Department Store in New York in the 1950s.
He then joined case goods and upholstery manufacturer Frank & Sons as a sales representative. Later, he represented manufacturers Kroehler and Bassett Upholstery. In 1970, as a Bassett rep in Philadelphia and the New Jersey suburbs, he was named the Furniture Club of Philadelphia's Manufacturer's Representative of the Year.
He stayed with Bassett until 1976, when he moved to Florida and began representing companies including DeVille Upholstery, Catnapper, Somma Waterbeds and Vaughan-Bassett. In 1981, he began working with startup manufacturer Maven Upholstery as a sales rep and in designing and marketing product.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1986 but continued to work, eventually opening a store in Tarpon Springs, Fla. His health forced him into early retirement in 1989.
He is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, many nieces and nephews and two sisters.
Memorials may be made to the Coalition to Cure Parkinson's, in care of Dr. Robert Hauser, 4 Columbia Drive, Suite 410, Tampa, Fla. 33606.
The family also invites anyone who knew Leo Grant to sign an online guest book for him at www.legacy.com.
Irwin Greenwald, retired retailer, importer
Los Angeles — Furniture industry veteran and retired Fairmont Designs executive Irwin Greenwald has died. he was 88.
After serving in the Army during World War II, he began a career in furniture retailing with his father in a family-owned business in Gary, Ind. In 1957, he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for the Sloans, Wilders and Angelus furniture chains. Eventually he shared ownership in Gold Key, a retail furniture chain, which he later sold.
He became vice president of marketing for importer Fairmont Designs in Buena Park, Calif., at its inception in 1984 and worked with the company until his retirement a decade later.
Greenwald is survived by his wife, sons and daughter, grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
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