You may have seen him in High Point as recently as five years ago. Nearer to 90 than 80, gaze directed beyond his next step, walking steadily, carrying a black case. A small man, perhaps five foot four when he was young and closer to upright.
He eventually lost some of his words, but never his gentle spirit. Larry Stein, Furniture World’s former Associate Publisher passed away at 92 just before the October High Point Market.
During his tenure in the industry he worked for Home Furnishings Daily, was Midwest Manager for House Beautiful Special Publications, and Associate Publisher for NHFA’s (now NAHFA) in-house publication Competitive Edge.
He was a WW2 Veteran, quick to tell a funny story, a lifelong musician and entertainer. Not long ago I found him in the Las Vegas Paris Hotel lobby doing a soft shoe and softly singing Swing lyrics to a delighted group of four.
At his center, Larry was a gentleman, a mentor, soft spoken, genuine and professional. He was the kind of sales professional potential customers want to buy from, and that people with even a speck of good sense aspire to be more like.
See his award winning 1997 “Furniture Idol” performance at a City of Hope High Point event
here.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2015.
Russell Bienenstock
Editorial Director
Furniture World is the oldest, continuously published trade publication in the United States. It is published for the benefit of furniture retail executives. Print circulation of 20,000 is directed primarily to furniture retailers in the US and Canada. In 1970, the magazine established and endowed the Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library (www.furniturelibrary.com) in High Point, NC, now a public foundation containing more than 5,000 books on furniture and design dating from 1620. For more information contact editor@furninfo.com.