Turnils VP Lumbatis Dies

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 1/24/2005 12:00:00 AM

Upper Saddle River, N.J. —

Don Lumbatis, vice president and general manager of Turnils, Inc., based in Suwanee, Ga., and a subsidiary of window covering manufacturer Hunter Douglas Inc., passed away on Jan. 8 at the age of 55.

For the past year, he was also acting general manager of the Hunter Douglas National Accounts Group, which includes the National Accounts and Alta divisions.

Lumbatis joined Hunter Douglas Inc. in 1990 and since 1994 was vice president and general manager of Turnils. Prior to joining Hunter Douglas, he worked at JCPenney for 17 years as president of the Custom Decorating Division.

“Don, a kind, warm and generous man of impeccable integrity, was also an outstanding leader, respected and admired by all those who knew and worked with him over the years,” said Hunter Douglas President and CEO Marv Hopkins. “He left us much too early, in the prime of his life, and he will be sorely missed. However, his legacy, his accomplishments and the superb example of his life and work will long endure for his family, for Hunter Douglas and for the window covering industry.”

Lumbatis is survived by his wife, Jane, six children and three grandchildren, as well as his mother, a sister and three brothers. At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hunter Douglas Foundation, Inc., for the Tsunami Relief Effort at 2 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, N.J. 07458, Attn: Betty Lou Smith.