Article Number : 1094 |
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| Date | 6/2/2006 9:26:36 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=1094 |
| Abstract | Manalapan, N.J.—“Al Hassan was an incredibly warm person who treated acquaintances as friends and friends as brothers,” said Neil Hunter, regional business manager for Johnsonite... |
| Article | Manalapan, N.J.—“Al Hassan was an incredibly warm person who treated acquaintances as friends and friends as brothers,” said Neil Hunter, regional business manager for Johnsonite. His affection for people, his charismatic personality and his ever present sense of humor endeared him to associates and explained his success in business. Albert Hassan’s involvement in the floor covering industry spanned nearly four decades and ended suddenly on May 2 in Robert Woods Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., where he died of complications from diabetes. He was 59. Hassan lived the American dream. He was born in Salzburg, Austria, and came to this country when he was four years old. As a young man, he realized he had an affinity for selling and, in 1969, secured a position in the floor covering department of Macy’s in New York City, where he honed his sales skills and built his product knowledge. In the ensuing years, he held sales positions with the William A. Sale Corp. and Ernest Rothschild Distributing. In 1974, he joined David Chassler, a division of American Biltrite. After a stint as sales manager with All Island Distributing, in 1980, he joined Benj. Berman, Inc., as a vice president. Between 1986 and 1991, he was a regional sales manager for World Carpets and sales manager for Apollo Distributing and Western Carpet & Linoleum. In 1991, he formed his own sales agency and operated it successfully for the past 15 years. Nick Romanelli, vice president of sales and marketing for Norman D. Lifton Co., remembered Hassan as “one of the all-time great guys. He was funny, loved practical jokes and enjoyed them as much when the tables were turned. He was everybody’s friend, and that was one thing he took seriously—friendship. He was generous and helpful and always there when you needed him.” Romanelli, a colleague at Benj. Berman, added, “Al was a great salesman, a team player and a valuable asset to every company he worked for. He was beloved and will not be forgotten by those whose lives he touched.” Hunter, who met Hassan at David Chassler, called him “absolutely amazing,” in that he had time for everyone “and was everyone’s best friend.” I knew him for 32 years, he said, “and we were really close, like brothers. He had a heightened sense of integrity and he was very principled. He was unique.” Retailer Sam Levine, now with G. Fried Carpet & Design, reflected, “When the door to my store would open and I would see Al walk in, my eyes lit up. I knew a great joke was on the way. Al never had a bad word for anyone; he was a rep for the dealer. I knew him for more than 25 years and I will miss him dearly. He was loved throughout the industry and I will never forget him.” Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Kitty; a son, Christian, and daughter-in-law, Jodie, and a daughter, Danielle. Donations may be made in his memory to The Samaritan Center, 3 Harrison Ave., Englishtown, N.J., 07726. |