Gorman’s Chairman and Longtime Philanthropist Bernie Moray Passes Away on His 100th Birthday
Furniture World News Desk on
8/24/2021
Gorman’s Home Furnishings & Interior Design of Farmington Hills announced that its longtime chairman, Bernard “Bernie” Moray passed away on Friday, Aug. 20, the date of his 100th birthday. He passed away at his Franklin, Michigan home surrounded by family.
A native Detroiter, Moray was known for his kind heart, generous spirit, love of family and an irrepressible sense of humor, a magical combination that led to enduring friendships and alliances, both professionally and personally.
“He was not only liked, he was loved,” Tom Lias, Gorman’s CEO, said.
Lias said he felt lucky to have worked with Moray for 38 years, celebrating the store’s 75th anniversary together in 2015. “You have that kind of longevity by consistently leading in both style and fashion, by being ahead of the trends. Bernie was able to do that,” he said, adding that Moray kept up with industry news and still diligently followed the furniture industry.
Moray’s generosity of spirit was evident in how he treated everyone in the industry as friends, even his peers at rivaling companies, according to Lias. Attendees of North Carolina furniture trade shows, which showcase the latest in furniture fashions, would gather together afterward for dinner and a chance to be regaled by Moray with his stories and jokes.
“He kept people crying for an hour,” Lias said. “He was the Buddy Hackett of the furniture industry. People were drawn to him.”
A graduate of the Mike Ilitch School of Business, Moray began his career in the furniture industry at Robinson's Furniture in 1949. In 1965, he purchased Gorman's Furniture and, in 1966, opened Gorman's Contemporary Gallery in Southfield. Over the years, he grew the business to include locations in Southfield, Troy, and Novi, with a warehouse and clearance center in Farmington Hills.
Based on his contributions to the development of the home furnishing industry, his innovations, creativity, and his philanthropy, Moray was inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame in 2017, which he considered “the pinnacle of my career.” He was 96 years old. Mr. Moray was named the National Home Furnishings Association's Retailer of the Year in 1993 and received the Masters of the Game: Furniture Today Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. He won the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University in 1999.
His quiet charisma and warmth led to unlikely encounters, including with celebrities. He met President Bill Clinton once as they both dined at the same restaurant in Washington, DC, and he encountered J.L. Hudson on a cruise. Moray also helped a young, rising star at the beginning of her career, in the spring of 1961, when their paths overlapped at the Caucus Club of Detroit. That star, Barbra Streisand, thanked him publicly for his help during a television interview on The Jack Paar Show years later.
Moray once shared with the Detroit News: “We'd always invite Barbra over to the table, and we'd feed her,” he said. “She was just a child! She was 16 (actually 18), and I was 36. But we got to know her very well, because we were there all the time. We'd even critique her clothes. I gave her some fabrics from the store, and she'd make skirts and dresses out of them.”
His generosity extended to a wide-ranging philanthropy over the years, and he often hosted events in his stores that benefited nonprofit organizations, including Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Toys for Tots, Arc of Oakland County, the American Cancer Society, Haven, a comprehensive program for domestic violence and sexual assault victims, and The Friendship Circle, which provides support for families of children with special needs.
Additionally, he served as an executive committee member of the Interior Design Society, chairman of the Allied Jewish Campaign’s furniture division, and visitors board member of the Wayne State University Business School.
The funeral for Moray will be held in an outside service at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Clover Hill Park Cemetery of Birmingham, officiated by Rabbi Harold Loss, Rabbi Levi Shemtov and Cantor Penny Steyer.
Survivors include Muriel Moray, his wife of 60 years, and his children, Susan Moray (Dr. Robert Stein) and John (Monica) Moray. His son, James “Jamey” Moray, preceded him in death in 2010. Grandchildren include Lauren Harrison, Jared Pazner, and Livia Moray. Bernie Moray was the brother of the late Marion (the late Harold) Robinson and uncle to Donald Robinson, Billy (Julie) Stern, Gail (Joel) Alpert and Meg (Steve) Cicurel.
About Gorman’s Home Furnishings & Interior Design
For more than 80 years, Gorman’s has been recognized as the original Michigan-style leader in home furnishings. With a reputation built on a commitment to quality–quality merchandise and quality design – the company delivers all of the best brands, not just a few, at the best prices–regardless of price point. Gorman’s nearly 50 designers have a combined 1,000+ years of residential and office design experience using Gorman’s expansive resource area and textiles library. Both designers and clients can rest assured when working with this style leader. Everything is backed by Gorman’s “Must Be Right” service guarantee. Showrooms are conveniently located in Novi, Southfield (Contemporary), and in Troy, and a warehouse and Three-Day Clearance Center are in Farmington Hills. For more information, visit www.Gormans.com.