Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 13, 2006
'Buddy' Comeaux, leading Louisiana retailer
Metairie, La. — Sterling "Buddy" Comeaux, founder and president of retailer Comeaux Furniture and Appliance here, died July 29 at his home from heart disease complications. He was 73.
A native of New Orleans, Comeaux opened his first store in the city at the age of 21 and began selling discounted televisions and appliances. He was soon successful and outgrew the 400-square-foot store.
Five years after opening, he moved to Veterans Boulevard in Metairie, against the advice of older business leaders in New Orleans. But the store took off and the added space allowed Comeaux to expand into furniture, bedding and decorative accessories.
In 1996, the single-store, midpriced Comeaux was featured in Furniture/Today as one of "America's Best Retailers" for its sharp pricing, skilled sales staff, loyal customer base and success, despite bucking an industry practice and never advertising.
"He has left behind a very strong company — a legacy really — with all the wherewithal to go to the next level," said Michael Comeaux, one of Buddy Comeaux's four sons, formerly vice president and now president of the company.
Michael Comeaux noted the retailer will be moving into a 203,000-square-foot distribution center in New Orleans in about six months, which will replace warehouse space at the store and at two off-site warehouses. It also will free up about 25,000 square feet of warehouse space attached to the store, effectively doubling the showroom size.
Survivors in addition to Michael include Buddy Comeaux's wife and Comeaux owner Corinne Comeaux; sons Sterling "Chip" Comeaux, secretary and treasurer of the business; Norman Comeaux, sales manager at Louis Mohana Furniture in Bourg, La., and Rene Comeaux; two daughters, Lisa Theriot and Linda Boucree; a sister and 12 grandchildren.
Cousin Bob Comeaux is owner of American Factory Direct Furniture in Mandeville, La.
Jackie Groban, industry sales rep for 50 years
Port St. Lucie, Fla. — Jackie Groban, a flamboyant furniture industry salesman for more than 50 years known for his wit and endless supply of stories, has died. He was 74.
Groban was vice president of sales for furniture protection products supplier Guardian Products for five years before his retirement in 2005. He had worked previously at a number of companies, including Paramount & Sturgis, Fineline, Shaw, Montclair Furniture and Howard Parlor, where he spent 20 years.
It was in the Montclair showroom in Hickory, N.C., on opening day of the October 1981 market that he married his wife, Karen, who survives him. The guests were 251 customers, who watched the bride and groom come down an aisle surrounded by sofas and chairs.
Greeting guests after the ceremony, "I stood in line with my order pad and took orders," Groban recalled in an interview last year.
He also said that in retirement, he'd miss the fun he had in the industry: "I loved it. I loved being with people. I enjoyed going out to the stores, holding meetings and revving up the sales force. I made a lot of retail customers a lot of money. I kept my promise to them."
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, a brother, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice Foundation, 1201 S.E. Indian St., Stuart, Fla. 34997.
Aaron Donner, longtime furniture designer
New Canaan, Conn. — Aaron Donner, a furniture designer for decades for several companies, has died after a long illness. He was 72.
Donner had worked for Collezione Europa, Bassett Furniture, Lane Furniture, Craft Associates, Casa Stradivari and others, mostly in case goods.
In the 1970s, he gained prominence for introducing the beanbag chair to the American market. In that same decade, he also was responsible for one of Lane's all-time bestselling case goods groups. His waterbed designs — and his Manhattan apartment — were featured in Life magazine.
Also a painter of some note, Donner continued working on a series of self-portraits throughout his illness, exploring the concept of illness and the search for self. An exhibition of this art is planned at Yale University later this year.
Survivors include his wife and a daughter.
A memorial service was held at the Abraham Green Funeral Home in Fairfield, Conn.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Fairfield County Chapter, 25 Third St., 4th floor, Stamford, Conn. 06905.
Donald B. Morgan, veteran rep, executive
High Point — Donald B. Morgan, a furniture industry sales representative and executive for 37 years, has died. He was 59.
A native of High Point, he joined the industry in 1969 as a sales representative and manager of the south and central Florida territory for bedding major Simmons.
From 1978 through 1993, he was a sales rep for Henredon in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Later he was vice president of sales for Lackawanna Leather, the North America rep for an Italian tannery, and a regional sales manager for Lexington Home Brands.
In early 2005 he became president of U.S. operations for accent furniture specialist Sterling Ashmore. Most recently, he was vice president of sales for the J. Michele Leather Co.
Throughout his career, he traveled extensively to Europe, South America and Asia. He had a passion for music and shag dancing, served as president of the Hickory Shag Club, and was a member of the Triad Shag Club and the High Point Germans Dance Club.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, four grandchildren and two brothers.
Memorials may be made to the Donald B. Morgan Educational Fund, c/o High Point Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1371, High Point, N.C. 27261.
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