Howard Olansky, a highly respected journalist and publisher who devoted his career to the flooring business and is widely credited with advancing the industry in a number of key areas, died today in Los Angeles after a brief illness. He was 78... more

New York City—He was a very funny man. He was spontaneous and his rapier-like wit parried the comebacks and showered laughter everywhere. His humor was subtle, always good natured, and often so hilarious they said he could make a mummy smile... more

FORT MEYERS, FLA.—One of the founders of the Long Island Floor Covering Club and a longtime member of the flooring industry, Armand Morano left Long Island after his retirement and relocated here, where he died Sept. 7 at the age of 84... more

KILLEN, ALA.—His inventions, designs and entrepreneurship helped shape the modern vinyl tile industry with quality products and superb designs. His philanthropy earned him the respect of those who worked for him and the community in which he lived. On Oct... more

Orlando, Fla.—Homer Wheeler, whose greatest achievement during a 50-plus year career in the floor covering industry was the founding of the full-line distributorship Wheeler Inc., in 1975, passed away on Sept. 20. He was 84... more

New York—He joined his father’s floor covering business in 1945, started enterprises of his own and enjoyed a successful career that spanned more than 60 years. Arthur Nestler was ambitious and willing to take risks to achieve his goals. He worked to the very last day of his life, which was Sept... more

Berkley, Ill.—Bernie Wittlinger was a raconteur without equal and had an endless inventory of jokes, amusing stories and humorous anecdotes. He was a master of dialects with an uncanny sense of timing. There were so many evenings he regaled audiences with his comedic offerings... more

LONG BEACH, Calif.—Donald Walton Bloeser, who owned what is considered to be the oldest floor covering dealership in California, died Aug. 23, one week shy of his 92nd birthday.

John Bloeser Carpet One was founded by Bloeser’s grandfather, John, in 1879... more

MENDHAM, N.J.—He spent almost all of his career with Congoleum Corp. in Kearny, N.J., rising from assistant district manager to president. In retirement 20 years, Harry F. Pearson, Sr., died on Aug. 14 in Morristown Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. He was 78... more

Alan S. Lorberbaum an entrepreneur, carpet industry pioneer and philanthropist, died Saturday, September 9, at his home in Boca Raton, Florida. He was 82.

Alan Lorberbaum was a dynamic and innovative leader in the carpet and rug industry for more than 40 years... more