GRANVILLE -- Four generations of Vandermindens
have guided Telescope Casual Furniture Inc. for more than a century.
The family has guided the Granville-based furniture manufacturer
through recessions, depressions, booms, busts and world wars.
On Sunday, the family will say a final goodbye to Henry "Hank"
Vanderminden III.
The 83-year-old former
company president died on Wednesday, according to obituary
information sent to The Post-Star on Thursday.
"They have contributed in so many ways to the village of Granville
and have supported local organizations like Little League and the
Lions Club," said village of Granville Mayor Jay Niles. "They are a
leading family in the community."
Vanderminden was born on May 12, 1925, in Brooklyn
and his family moved to Granville in 1932.
He would go on to attend Vermont Academy and serve in the U.S. Army
in the 83rd Infantry Division during World War II.
After graduating from Colgate University in 1950, he joined the
family furniture business.
Four years later, he coined the term "director’s chair" after
noticing that movie moguls favored the iconic wooden folding chairs.
In 1971, Vanderminden became president of
Telescope Furniture, taking over the business with his brother Bob.
They were the third generation to run the company.
Vanderminden remained president of the company until his retirement
in 2001.
During those 30 years, he was an active member of the community,
said his son Henry Vanderminden IV.
"He knew a tremendous amount of people," Henry
said. "He was an extremely honest person who was always interested
in you. He was very much a communicator."
His father didn’t seek out attention, he said.
"He wasn’t really a person that would support any one cause," Henry
said. "He would recognize maybe a family or a certain cause that
needed something and would help them out."
Henry, currently the president of Telescope Furniture, took over the
family business just as his father did.
"Some businesses never make it to a second or third generation,"
Henry said. "I don’t know what it is, but it’s something that my
father passed on to me and I’m very fortunate for it."
An avid golfer and Mets fan, Vanderminden was
known for his jokes, said Village Clerk Rick Roberts.
Both men became friends after Vanderminden retired. They would play
golf and attend church together.
"He would also start with a ‘Did you hear the one about ...,’ " said
Roberts. "Whether you win or lose in golf or life, if you can come
off the field of life and smile, I think that’s a pretty good
trait."
NICK REISMAN,
Glens Falls Post-Star - Glens
Falls,NY,USA