HTT Correspondent Brent Felgner, 57
-- Home Textiles Today, 11/9/2009 12:00:00 AM
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. —
Veteran business journalist and longtime HTT contributor Brent Felgner passed away from cancer here Oct. 26 in his father’s home, to which he and his wife had relocated earlier this year.
Felgner began his association with Home Textiles Today in 1989 and in the years since covered news, blogged, edited articles and designed pages for various projects.
It was at HTT that Felgner met his future wife, Desiree Nunez, who at the time was the publication’s art director. In 1997, the pair formed their own graphic, design and editorial services company, Gotham Media Works.
A journalist with broad interests, Felgner also contributed as a writer and an editor to several other publications owned by HTT parent company Reed Business Information. They included Broadcasting and Cable, Multichannel News, TWICE, Playthings and Gifts & Decorative Accessories. His work for Playthings covering an epochal shift in the New York toy industry earned the magazine a Neal Award, the trade publishing industry’s highest journalism prize.
Before beginning his journalism career, Felgner spent some time helping to run an early campaign for current New York Senator Chuck Schumer. He went on to work as a reporter for the Bergen Record in New Jersey, then worked as a reporter for a New Jersey radio station.
He entered trade journalism as senior editor of Discount Store News (now Retailing Today) and later became editor of Tobacco & Candy News.
Felgner’s tenacity was legendary among his colleagues. In recent years, he bird-dogged the home textile’s industry’s two most significant bankruptcy proceedings — Pillowtex Inc. and WestPoint Stevens Inc. When each property went to auction, he kept vigil from early morning until well into the evening, standing post outside the auction sites until the principals emerged late at night to report the outcome of the bidding.
In addition to being a greatly admired professional, he was also beloved by many who worked with him.
“Brent was a tremendous human being with a great, great heart,” said Jennifer Marks, HTT editor-in-chief. “There are several generations of HTTers who are richer personally and professionally for knowing him.”
He is survived by his wife, his father, Hans; and his son, Scott.
There will be no formal services in Florida. Later this year, the family will organize a memorial service in New York for friends and colleagues. Anyone wishing to commemorate his life is asked to donate to the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Society of Professional Journalists. Checks should be made out to “Sigma Delta Chi Foundation” and sent to: Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, Eugene S. Pulliam National Journalism Center, 3909 N Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208. If possible, include a small note or notation on the memo line of the check to read: “In Memory of Brent Felgner.”
We would love your feedback!
-
HTT Correspondent Brent Felgner, 57
Oct 28, 2009
Featured Company
-
Wright Labels
Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more
