Leonard Silberman, cofounder and CEO of Duralee, passed away on April 16 at the age of 93. Silberman got his start in the industry as a fabric shipping clerk and salesman, later founding Duralee with his two partners, Sig Rosenberger and Marshall Kutz, in 1952. He was also a pioneer who opened the first major fabric showroom in Washington, D.C., and joined the D&D Building in New York as an early tenant.
Silberman grew the company from a small fabric house to a design leader. Today, Duralee represents seven fabric lines and four drapery hardware lines, in addition to manufacturing its own furniture in North Carolina.
The company recalled a leader known for his “feisty personality, keen business acumen and loyalty to his employees, vendors and customers.”
Silberman leaves behind three children, including Duralee’s senior vice president, Amy Silberman-Benjamin, two stepdaughters, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.