Canadian furniture industry leader John Colalillo dies at 72

Founded Superstyle, Trend-Line, Simmons Upholstery Canada

Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, August 19, 2010

John Collalilo

TORONTO — John Colalillo, founder and president of upholstery producer Superstyle Furniture, died Wednesday evening after a brief illness. He was 72.

Born Giovanni Colalillo in Bojano, Italy, he immigrated to Canada on the advice of his grandfather in 1958 and began his furniture industry career the following year working at the now-defunct Newport Chesterfield.

In partnership with his brother-in-law, Mario Colalillo, John started Futurama Chesterfield with a factory in Toronto in 1964.

When the partnership ended three years later, Colalillo and his brother, Domenic, started what was then called Superstyle Chesterfield in a 5,000-square-foot factory. In those early days, Colalillo acted as president, sales representative, order collector and fabric cutter.

In 1972, he moved Superstyle and its then 30-member work force to a 15,000-square-foot building in Toronto. Ten years later, the company moved once again to a 70,000-square-foot factory on Norfinch Drive.

In 1985, John Colalillo started Trend-Line Furniture, a specialist in modern and contemporary upholstery. Soon after, he founded Simmons Upholstery Canada, now one of the country's largest producers of sofa beds.

The current home to Superstyle Furniture, a 120,000-square-foot factory in the Toronto suburb of Vaughan, was built in 1998. Trend-Line continues to occupy the Norfinch Drive facility.

Colalillo's son, Danny, is president of Trend-Line. John Colalillo's wife, Joanne, and daughter, Mary, both work at Superstyle.

In 2008, John and Mario Colalillo were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance in recognition of their contributions to the industry. Mario Colalillo is now president of Edgewood Furniture.

"There is always a great need in business for people who are professional, who have integrity, give good counsel to their employees and are respected by their customers and peers. Both of these men exemplify these qualities and deeply deserve this honor," CHFA Chairman Laine Reynolds, who also is vice president of sales for Superstyle and Trend-Line, said in announcing the award.

Under Colalillo's leadership, Superstyle also received the Sears Canada Partner in Progress Award six times. For four consecutive years, it also won the annual Retailers' Choice Award, which is presented annually by the CHFA based on retailers voting for their favorite manufacturers.

"We will always remember John Colalillo as a man of accomplishment in an industry he loved so much. John was a hardworking, successful businessman who was admired for being a gentleman who never lost his common touch," Reynolds said.

Visitors will be received on Thursday, Aug. 19, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Friday, Aug. 20, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., at the Fratelli Vescio Funeral Home, 8101 Weston Rd., Woodbridge Ontario.

A funeral mass is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at St. Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church, 8500 Islington Ave. in Woodbridge.

Online tributes may be left at www.fratellivesciofuneralhomes.com.