Marlboro, N.Y.—Robert William Van Buren was a titan in the resilient flooring industry, bringing to it an expansive insight, innovative advances and strong leadership. His storied career spanned five decades and was distinguished by his unique ability to persevere, his inherent capacity to inspire and his unparalleled achievements that will long be remembered. He retired as vice chairman and CEO of Domco Tarkett at the close of 2000 but never lost touch with the company or the industry he loved. On May 27, after a short illness, he died at his home here of cardiopulmonary arrest which resulted in respiratory failure. He was 74. Van Buren was born on Aug. 26, 1930, in Newburgh, N.Y., where he received his early education and graduated from high school at age 15. In 1949, he joined Mastic Tile Co. (Matico) in its engineering department as a chemist and in the ensuing 23 years became an expert in all aspects of the manufacturing process. In those two decades, Ruberoid purchased Matico and GAF later acquired Ruberoid. Van Buren not only survived the acquisitions, he thrived; he became proficient in distribution protocol, marketing and merchandising. While at GAF, he was the driving force behind the development of its sheet vinyl and tile operation, and thru-chip commercial tile was achieved under his direction. He also contributed significantly to the building of manufacturing facilities for the company in Germany and Japan. From the engineering department he was promoted to plant manager at Vails Gate, N.Y., and then to vice president of manufacturing of the Flooring Division. In 1973, he was named president of Amtico, a division of American Biltrite. His professionalism and effective leadership impacted the company’s manufacturing capabilities and efficiency. Aside from the company’s growth during his tenure, his most renowned accomplishment with Amtico was the introduction of the first urethane-coated tile. Van Buren, with a reputation as a productive leader and a fiscal ly prudent manager, was named president and CEO of Azrock Industries in 1979. The company was in the midst of financial difficulties when he came aboard and his management skills and manufacturing efficiencies revitalized the tile maker and made it profitable again. He also contributed enormously to Azrock’s conversion from asbestos with minimum financial impact. There is no doubt that he averted disaster and made Azrock a viable, competitive and profitable company. In 1989, he joined Domco Industries Ltd., the Canadian resilient manufacturer, as vice chairman and CEO. In turn, the company became known as Domco Tarkett and now Tarkett Inc. During the changes and restructuring of the company, Van Buren‘s leadership kept the transitions orderly and unobtrusive. He contributed dramatically to the company’s growth and prominence and considered the acquisitions of Azrock and Nafco the centerpiece of his tenure, the linchpin of unprecedented expansion. He guided the company into the new millennium with confidence and resolve and has left his imprint on its current culture. While at the helm, Domco was the recipient of Floor Covering News’ Award of Excellence. Van Buren was regarded as a manufacturing genius, an astute businessman and an inspirational leader. He was passionate about his work, caring of his employees and modest about his achievements. He was a gentle man, shy and unassuming, and he cherished friendships, which he nurtured throughout his life. He was honored by the World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA) in January of 2000 when he was inducted into the prestigious Industry Hall of Fame—its 27th member, and he was profoundly proud of the tribute. He retired Dec. 31 of that year, but never left the industry. He continued to enjoy warm relationships with distributors and retailers around the country. During his 50 years in the industry, he wrenched time from burdensome schedules to serve on boards, committees and associations. He was a member of the board of directors of the WFCA from 1987 to 1989; he served two terms as president of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute; he was a member of the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors and the American Floorcovering Association, and a member of the Association of Floorcovering Distributors (Canada). “I have known Bob for almost 20 years and he always set an example for me,“ said Gilles de Beaumont, president of Tarkett Commercial, “He was diligent, sincere and most understanding. He was a man of his word. I traveled with him to distributors and when he made a commitment, it was cast in concrete—he would honor it, no matter how difficult. His work ethic and personal demeanor were impeccable.” Explaining how Van Buren touched people, de Beaumont added, “We would walk through a plant together and he talked to everyone, the receptionist, the hourly worker or a vice president—friendly and warm. I apply those values every day. When my wife and I moved to Texas, he was very reassuring and made us part of his family. He started as my boss and then became a close personal friend. I will miss him immeasurably.” Jim Murphy, who worked with Van Buren for more than 40 years, remembers the loss of his friend with great sadness and recalls that “he was such an outstanding contributor to the flooring industry, in so many ways and for so long a time. He was always there with his good counsel, guidance and support of sales and always coupled with the right product, quality and service.” Murphy reminisced, “Over the years we spent together, Bob never forgot ‘the customer always comes first.’ He was a team player, working with honesty, skill and welfare up to the final customer.” Bob Van Buren was my friend, steadfast and loyal. Honesty and love were his moral imperatives and he shared himself generously with me in good times and bad. Much of what he did was heroic, but he viewed it at ordinary—yet there was nothing ordinary about him. He was quiet though his deeds were loquacious. He was humble though all who knew him were proud of his accomplishments. Simply, he was extraordinary. The Bard described him best, “His life was gentle, and the elements so mix’d in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, This was a man!’” I’ll miss you, old buddy. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Elaine; a son, Robert W.; three daughters, Toni-Marie Saldana, Karen Jared and Kathleen Kellerher; three grandsons, Joseph Charles Jared, Herbert Daniel Kellerher and Robert William III; three granddaughters, Anne Elizabeth Jared, Margaret McCloskey Kellerher and Mollie Moore Kellerher.