Ruby Abrams, Longtime Buyer for Seaman's Furniture
Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 25, 2011
Abrams
TAMARAC, Fla. - Ruby Abrams, a beloved industry veteran and case goods buyer for former retailer Seaman's Furniture, died here July 26. He was 90.
Abrams got his start in the industry with the former high-end New York retailer Pennington, where he began to pick up his knowledge of furniture style and construction.
He joined Seaman's in the 1960s as the case goods buyer, when it operated four stores and was "one of the two or three most important guys in the growth of Seaman's," said Morty Seaman, former leader of the chain, now working with his son Jeffrey Seaman, CEO of Rooms To Go.
The Woodbury, N.Y.-based Seaman's, a former Top 100 company, eventually grew to about 35 stores and later merged with the former Levitz. It closed in 2005.
"He was a wonderful person, loved by all of his sources and all of our employees," Seaman said. He added that Abrams was a great businessman, always trying to get the best price and expecting the best from his suppliers, as well as "the softest, sweetest man you could ever meet."
Abrams remained the lead case goods buyers through the late 1980s, and when Seaman's son was preparing to open Rooms To Go in Florida, "we wanted him to come with us," Morty Seaman said. But Abrams declined.
"Listen, get yourself some young guys," Seaman recalled Abrams saying. "They won't have my experience but you can teach them."
Services for Abrams were held at Gutterman's Memorial Chapel in Woodbury, N.Y., on July 29.
Survivors include his wife Joan Abrams; four grandchildren and daughter-in-law Mary DeMarco Lee.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Joel Abrams, who also worked for Seaman's, and Robert Abrams, who worked for Rooms To Go.
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