Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 29, 2005
Jack Brandwein, Furniture Forum
Sun City, Ariz. — Jack Brandwein, known for his work establishing the Furniture Forum, an industry newsletter, has died. He was 84.
Brandwein grew up in Chicago, where his grandfather had started a mattress manufacturing business in 1902.
He moved to Sacramento, Calif., in 1955 to work at his uncle's furniture store, Bargain Bill's.
Brandwein bought the store a few years later and it became Brandwein Furniture, the first of two locations.
In the early 1970s, he left retailing to create Furniture Forum, which eventually published editions in Canada, Australia and England.
"Jack became an industry icon," said Joe Giramonte, past president of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. "He held seminars and advised many retailers nationwide, which made the newsletter stronger."
Brandwein sold Furniture Forum in the mid-1980s and retired. He and his wife, Shefra, traveled extensively and he continued to speak at furniture seminars.
His daughter, Jan Friedman, works as an interior designer in Arizona. Survivors include his wife, daughter and son.
David Darvin, Chicago retailer; co-founder of Darvin Furniture
Orland Park, Ill. — Longtime Chicagoland furniture retailer David Darvin, one of the founders of Top 100 store Darvin Furniture, has died. He was 90.
Born in Russia, Darvin moved to Chicago in 1927 to join other family members who had already immigrated. His father, Louis Darvin, started a door-to-door business after surveying neighbors and finding out they needed furniture. He put together a catalog of items from a Chicago-area furniture manufacturer.
In the 1940s, Louis asked David to join the business as a partner. David Darvin agreed, but only if they could open a store. They founded Darvin Furniture in the city's West Pullman neighborhood.
In 1960, the company relocated to a larger showroom, and eventually moved to Orland Park in metro Chicago in 1980. That year, David Darvin's sons, Steve and Marty Darvin, took over the business.
This year, Darvin Furniture was ranked 79th among Furniture/Today's Top 100 Furniture Stores based on estimated 2004 furniture, bedding and accessories sales of $78 million. The midpriced to upscale retailer has a full-line store and an adjacent Thomasville Home Furnishings store.
David Darvin is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Magen David Adom, 8930 Gross Point Road, No. 800, Skokie, Ill. 60077.
Jerome Schloemer, Ohio retailer
Cincinnati — Jerome Schloemer, who owned and operated five furniture stores in Ohio, has died. He was 86.
A native of Cincinnati, Schloemer started working as a pattern maker at an aeronautical plant, then started a machine shop business out of his parents' garage.
Later, while selling upholstery for Brenner Furniture Mfg. as a manufacturer's representative, he opened what became J. Schloemer Furniture Co. in Silverton, Ohio, in 1948. He eventually opened four more locations, and retired six years ago.
He was preceded in death by one son and is survived by his wife, four daughters, two sons and 17 grandchildren.
