Ex-exec Badamo dies at 72

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/21/2004 12:00:00 AM

LINDENHURST, NY —

Industry veteran Matt "Matty" Badamo passed away May 4 following a long battle with cancer. He was 72 years old.

He began his career as a buyer for Fedway Stores in 1958. Over the next 35 years, he held sales and marketing management positions at Springs Industries, Burlington, Minette, Fieldcrest and Thomaston Mills. After his official retirement, Badamo did independent repping work for fabric and institutional distributors until last year.

He was "a textile executive by day, Latin percussionist by night," said daughter Angela Allen, director of sourced bed product development for WestPoint Stevens. "He brought me to work with him long before there was a 'bring your child to work' day and made me love this industry, too," she added.

In addition to Allen, survivors include Badamo's wife Assunta, children Dominick and John Badamo, and two grandchildren.

The family requests that anyone wishing to make donations in Badamo's name direct them to the American Cancer Society.