Plymouth, Mich.—Carl Thomas Francavilla, who began his career in the carpet industry in the early 1950s, passed away on April 26 following a seven-month battle with cancer. He was 80.

Francavilla, born in Lincoln Park, Mich., graduated from and was class president of Lincoln Park High School. He began his career with Buhl & Sons and then went on to work for Advance Distributing where he sold Kentile and General Felt products.

Francavilla then moved on to Trend Mills, where he served as Midwest district sales manager, and then on to Atlanta where he was general manager for the company’s Tex Tuft division. Francavilla also worked for Venture Carpeting in Montreal.

Since 1978, he and his wife owned and operated Independent Carpet One in Westland, Mich. Francavilla formally retired in 2004. His sons still operate the franchise. Francavilla also served as president of the Detroit Floor Covering Association, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Dearborn Country Club and was also a long-time member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Plymouth.

“Carl was a very unique individual,” said industry veteran Jack Love, one of Francavilla’s closest friends. “He never met a stranger. Five minutes after you met Carl, you were one of his close friends; it didn’t matter whether you were the president of a company or the janitor, he treated everybody equally.

“Carl had a wonderful attitude,” Love added. “Wherever he would go, people were attracted to him. Carl would go on vacation to Hawaii and he would come back with half a dozen names for other people in the company to contact. He was just a great, lovable guy to be around. Whatever company or division he was in, he always led that company in sales.”

In his free time, Francavilla enjoyed playing golf, traveling, as well as card playing with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife of over 55 years, Frances; two sons, Carl and Robert; daughter, Cathy Buchanan, and eight grandchildren. Francavilla was predeceased by another son, Christopher. He also leaves two brothers, Tony and John; as well as a sister, Gloria Armelagos.