Donald Lorberbaum,75, Longtime Springs Exec

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/21/2010 3:47:58 AM

NEW YORK - Services were held last week for Donald Lorberbaum, 75, longtime textiles executive who died 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 New York Times called Lorberbaum "the ultimate merchant, and advisor, who could walk with kings and not lose the common touch."
     He is survived by three children, Steve, Gregg and Neal, eight grandchildren and his partner Beth.