Memorial service for Michael Lerner set for Oct. 22

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 11, 2012

NEW YORK — A memorial service for former retail executive and sales representative Michael Lerner has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at the New York Design Center.

Lerner, who died Oct. 3 after a yearlong battle with cancer, was 75.

He joined Founders Furniture in the mid 1960s as a sales rep. He then spent 15 years with Bernhardt covering the New York City territory before joining Hickory Mfg. for a decade.

In 1989, Lerner was named vice president of high-end European contemporary retailer Roche-Bobois USA, rising to president and CEO. He retired from the company in 2005 to become a furniture consultant and was active in the industry until recently.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be directed toward the Life Raft Group, which supports research and care for patients with GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumors) and has a website at www.LifeRaftGroup.org.