Content about Person Relation

AVENTURA, Fla. — William Kalman “Bill” Steiner, founder of Steiner-Atlantic Corp. and Dryclean USA, died Dec. 27 after a three-year struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 82.

The Chicago-born Steiner worked hard his entire life, beginning as a newsboy at age 9. He held part-time jobs throughout high school and worked his way through Baltimore Business College to earn his accounting degree.

While working as an accountant, a client asked Steiner to help him book rock ’n’ roll shows around Baltimore. Show business soon enthralled him, and he booked prominent 1950s stars such as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and the Kingston Trio at concerts around the country. But he eventually tired of the constant travel and moved in 1959 to Miami, where he met his future wife, Sheila. They married in 1961.

It was in Miami that Steiner began a new career in the dry cleaning business. He founded Steiner-Atlantic Corp., a distributor of commercial laundry and dry cleaning equipment, boilers, parts and service, in 1959. Michael Steiner took over the reins of that company in 1987.

After building and selling several of his own dry cleaning plants, Bill Steiner co-founded Dryclean USA, a dry cleaning business franchisor, in 1977. That business also continues through this day under Michael’s leadership.

Bill Steiner constantly sought to improve dry cleaning machinery in order to make the industry more environmentally friendly, and he is the holder of several patents for environmentally safe dry cleaning equipment and processes.

Bill and Sheila Steiner have been members of Beth Torah Congregation in Aventura for many years. They provided the educational center there in memory of son Jim, who died in a 1989 auto accident at age 21. But they were also generous in their community. In honor of their long-time support, the Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation renamed a part of the hospital the Bill and Sheila Steiner Family North Lobby.

Surviving Steiner are his wife, Sheila; four sons, Robert, Richard, Michael and David; a brother, Tom; and four grandchildren.

Donations in Steiner’s memory may be made to the Beth Torah Congregation, Jackson Memorial Hospital, or the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.  

CHICAGO — The laundry and dry cleaning industry lost two vendor leaders recently with the passings of Steven Katz, CEO of ThermoSteam Industries, and Gene Blumenthal, founder and president of Metro-Chem Inc.

Steven Mark Katz, 1948-2012

Katz, 63, South Bend, Ind., died Monday. He was born and raised in South Bend. He attended Indiana University, where he graduated with a history degree in 1970. He pursued a career in laundry and dry cleaning, and eventually became the CEO of two companies: ThermoSteam Systems, manufacturer of packaged steam boilers, and Kay Industries, producer of phase converters.

Katz was active in the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA), having served on its board of directors for four years and as treasurer for two.

He was also active in his local community and his congregation, Sinai Synagogue. He was known as an extraordinary orator and was called upon to emcee various events in the South Bend area over the years.

Surviving him are his wife, Laurie Katz; three children, Hal, David and Jamie Katz; three brothers, Larry, Marty and Stuart Katz; a sister, Debbie Sandock; and four grandsons. Condolences may be sent to the family via McGann Hay Funerals.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sinai Synagogue, 1102 E. LaSalle Ave., South Bend, IN 46617; or to the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, 3202 Shalom Way, South Bend, IN 46615.

Eugene “Gene” G. Blumenthal, 1940-2012

Blumenthal, 71, of Marlboro, N.J., died July 30 at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, N.J.

He began his career in the late 1960s as a sales representative for Stauffer Chemical before moving on to become a regional sales manager for PQ Corp. in the 1970s.

Building on his personable style, technical knowledge and ability to formulate innovative laundry chemistry, Blumenthal became founder and president of Metro-Chem, a formulator of chemicals for the laundry industry, in 1980. He oversaw the company until his death. His partner of 32 years, Pete Potocki, has assumed the role of Metro-Chem’s president.

Surviving Blumenthal are his wife of 26 years, Elizabeth; his son, David; his daughter, Helaine; his mother, Beatrice; his brother, Allen; and four grandchildren. Condolences may be sent to the family via Freeman Funeral Homes.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that any donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Jørn Munch Jensen, founder of JENSEN-GROUP, died June 21 on the Danish island of Bornholm. He was 80.

He laid the foundation for the international company built on sustainable laundry automation. It supplies equipment and solutions for all sections of industrial laundries.

Jensen was born June 10, 1932, in Rønne on the island of Bornholm. He spent a happy childhood with sister Ella in a family of hard workers; his father ran his own company where dairy equipment was repaired. After training as a machinist and obtaining a business degree, Jensen decided to pursue his dream of living an international life.

Probably the most formative event of his life was his friendship with Bent Kjellberg, who introduced him to a folding machine. In 1959, Jensen decided to build his own folding machine for heavy-duty laundries with his father, Ejnar Jensen. He began marketing the product worldwide a year later.

JENSEN-GROUP added a feeder to the product range in 1973. It developed its own ironer in the 1980s and started supplying complete flatwork finishing systems. Acquisition of Metricon Conveyor Systems in the 1990s added garment technology.

In 1998, Jesper Munch Jensen, Jørn’s son, instigated an expansion program that led to the acquisition of Senking GmbH, Futurail and L-Tron, making JENSEN-GROUP the first total laundry automation supplier.

Jørn Munch Jensen and his wife, Lise, were married in 1954. They have three children and seven grandchildren. The family takes comfort that just 11 days before his death, Jørn celebrated his 80^th birthday with his family and friends.

SOUTH KEARNY, N.J. — The Pelham (N.Y.) Civic Association has named local resident Peter Potocki, owner of Metro-Chem, its 2011 Man of the Year.

The association is Westchester County’s most active charitable, volunteer organization, dedicated to helping the youth, elderly, disabled and needy. Once a year, it presents its highest award to an individual who best demonstrates the organization’s mission and virtues.

Potocki has distinguished himself over the last two decades as an outstanding leader in the Pelham community, according to the association. He has been a village trustee, recreation commissioner and a Little League baseball coach, and his work as a member and officer of the Pelham Civic Association resulted in the success of many local civic programs.

Perhaps his most notable contribution is The Danny Fund, which he and his wife, Kathy, founded.. The nonprofit organization provides financial, emotional and advocacy support for families of children with catastrophic illnesses. It has assisted more than 65 families over 17 years.

DALLAS — Linens for Animals (LFA), which provides recycled commercial linens for helpless animals, is seeking partners to expand its efforts beyond the 19 states already serviced, the charity reports in a press release.

“We want to see a Linens for Animals in every state—in every community,” says Lori Birdsong, director and founder of the 501(c)(3) non-profit.

KEARNY, N.J. — Lou Kobus, field representative and ambassador at large for A.L. Wilson Chemical Co., has died at the age of 81, the company reports.

Kobus spent his career working in the laundry and drycleaning industry, first as an owner/operator in Lansing, Mich., and then briefly as a technician for an industrial laundry manufacturer. He worked for A.L. Wilson for the last 28 years.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — David Sumner modestly describes his start-up as “a small, little business we’re hoping to grow.” But since opening in April 2007, the growth of Beach Buddies Laundry Service has been anything but modest.

KANSAS CITY – John “Jack” S. Spence, 80, retired president of Faultless Laundry Co., Kansas City, Mo., died here Friday, Feb. 15.

Spence represented the third generation in the family business, working several years with his father, John B. Spence, and his grandmother, Cora Spence. He became president in 1962, marking a time in which he would start to aggressively grow the business for the next 30 years.