Retail exec Widdess dies at 57

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/9/2001 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

Memorial services will be held July 24 for Bob Widdess, 57, who died last week after several years of battling cancer.

Widdess, who was most recently vp, home for Macy's by Mail, had been a long-time executive at Strouds. Earlier he was dmm at Weinstock's.

Mark Grand, vp, home fashions at Sears, and a Strouds colleague, commented, "He was a great guy, a fine merchant and an outstanding business partner. He was honorable and caring, and his death is a horrible loss — a young man with so much energy, and he had an incredibly positive attitude throughout the whole ordeal."

For Bill Stroud, Strouds founder and chairman emeritus, "Bob helped save my life when I had my heart attack in '87. I won't ever forget him getting me to the right hospital."

And from a business perspective, Stroud said, "He did a fine job for Strouds and was respected by everybody."

From the marketplace, Bob Dale, senior vp, WestPoint Stevens, commented, "He was one of the finest gentlemen in our industry, and we're going to miss him. His winning smile was contagious."

Widdess is survived by his mother, two brothers, Stew and Paul, and his companion, Nancy O'Connor.

The memorial service will be at 4 p.m. on July 24 at Marble Collegiate Church here.