John Celesia, 95, Remembered
April 28, 2020
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a letter to F&FI from Stan Fradin, who was a former president of Rockland Mills.
“When I joined Rockland in 1966, one of the very first people I met, was John Celesia.
“He was, for decades, a vice president of Rockland and the guy that ran Rockland’s New York office until 2001. John passed away on Friday, April 24, in California with his oldest daughter and her family nearby.
“He is survived by three children and six grandchildren. John was 95 years old and passed peacefully.
“John was a walking encyclopedia of the home-furnishing-industry companies and people. He knew everyone, whether in readymade or made to measure or any and every converter supplying the drapery and curtain industry.
“He knew the jobbers and the buying offices and the chain stores and everyone knew him in return. He was a gentle man with a winning smile and he certainly got me off to a great start learning who was who.
“He was liked and respected by all that knew him. John will be missed. He was one of the good guys.”
“When I joined Rockland in 1966, one of the very first people I met, was John Celesia.
“He was, for decades, a vice president of Rockland and the guy that ran Rockland’s New York office until 2001. John passed away on Friday, April 24, in California with his oldest daughter and her family nearby.
“He is survived by three children and six grandchildren. John was 95 years old and passed peacefully.
“John was a walking encyclopedia of the home-furnishing-industry companies and people. He knew everyone, whether in readymade or made to measure or any and every converter supplying the drapery and curtain industry.
“He knew the jobbers and the buying offices and the chain stores and everyone knew him in return. He was a gentle man with a winning smile and he certainly got me off to a great start learning who was who.
“He was liked and respected by all that knew him. John will be missed. He was one of the good guys.”
