Services set for industry vet Donald Lorberbaum

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/1/2010 3:50:09 PM

New York - Services will be held here tomorrow for Donald Lorberbaum, long-time textiles executive who died yesterday following a long struggle with pancreatic cancer.
Lorberbaum's family owned a textiles company called Lawtex Industries that was purchased by Springs Industries in 1979 in one of the first waves of consolidation in the industry. Springs renamed the company Springs Performance and it became a free-standing unit at a time when Springs had a decentralized structure.
Springs Performance became known for several specialized products, including mass merchant solid color sheets, juvenile bedding and novelty pillows and coordinates. Lorberbaum's brother Robert ran the juvenile unit of the company.
Donald Lorberbaum eventually became president of an integrated Springs textiles division in the 1990s and retired several years later.
The death notice in today's New York Times called Lorberbaum "the ultimate merchant, and advisor, who could walk with kings and not lose the common touch."
According to the notice, he is survived by three children, Steve, Gregg and Neal, eight grandchildren and his partner Beth.
Services are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 2 at 1:15pm at The Riverside, Amsterdam Avenue and 76 Street.