Mary DiZazzo-Trumbull 1954 - 2025

Mary DiZazzo-Trumbull died March 18, 2025, after a long illness. Mary was born on Christmas Day 1954, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, first-born child of Alec DiZazzo (1920 - 2010) and Josephine (Catalano) DiZazzo (1923 - 2001). Both parents were natives of Lawrence Massachusetts. Mary's grandparents were immigrants. The DiZazzo family was from Rocca d'Evandro, Caserta, Italy. The Catalano and related Cosentino families were from Aci Catena, Catania, Sicily, and Aci Sant'Antonio, Catania. On September 29, 2003, Mary was wed to David Trumbull, in Rome, Italy.

In addition to love of family and the Boston arts and theatre scene, Mary was proud of her trade as a cosmetologist. She followed her mother and grandmother in this trade and earned her credentials at the M. Fazio Institute of Beauty Culture, Class of '74. She worked in various beauty salons until she operated her own business, Mary for Nails, from March 1996, until, due to declining health, she had to shutter the business in March 2018. Mary was a columnist for the Post-Gazette, The Italian-American Voice of Massachusetts, where she wrote her "All That Zazz" beauty culture column since August, 2003.

In retirement she continued to support the trade she had taken such pride in. Even in her recuperative bed she renewed her Commonwealth of Massachusetts license as a Cosmetologist. She gave back to her trade and encouraged its future by agreeing, in April 2015, to serve on the Greater Lawrence Technical School Cosmetology Advisory Board. She also gave talks on beauty culture talks at the North End Branch of the Boston Public Library.

Mary's hobbies were too many to list, but what stands out was her dollhouse and the miniature furnishing. The dollhouse had its own address to which a weekly newspaper was delivered. In 2014, the Beacon Hill Times newspaper published a front-page story about Mary's dollhouse. The reporter, upon receiving a photo of the dollhouse said, "I see your living room, but where is the dollhouse?" Mary responded, "That is the living room of the dollhouse." That same year the Newseum, a museum in Washington DC published an online story about Mary's diminutive domicile.

Donations may be made in her name to the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, 185 Kneeland Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02111, or to your favorite organization that advocates for rights of disabled persons. Masses or other expressions of sympathy may be sent to David Trumbull, 130 Bowdoin St, Apartment 1110, Boston, MA 02108, or to trumbull@trumbullofboston.org.

Final arrangements are through Boston Cremation, 287 Main St, Malden, MA 02148 (info@bostoncremation.org). No public ceremonies are planned.

The final words:

"She made me a better man." -- David Trumbull

The Textile Industry Mourns the Loss of Dr. Yong Kim

Dr. Kim's research focused on textile manufacturing and the applications of advanced composite materials. Notably, he was part of a research team that developed an energy-absorbing technology in football helmets and body armor by employing flock. Dr. Kim’s patent on sea-island bi-component fibers was utilized by Puritan Medical Products during the COVID-19 pandemic to manufacture nasopharyngeal swabs with enhanced sample collection efficacy. Dr. Kim's obituary is available HERE.

Government to Close December 5 in Honor of President George H.W. Bush

EXECUTIVE ORDER 13852 PROVIDING FOR THE CLOSING OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON DECEMBER 5, 2018

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed on December 5, 2018, as a mark of respect for George Herbert Walker Bush, the forty-first President of the United States.

Sec. 2. The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on December 5, 2018, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.

James (Jim) C. Leonard III, 1939 - 2018

James (Jim) C. Leonard III passed away on December 25 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jim was born May 24, 1939 in Winston-Salem to James C. Leonard, Jr. and Ruby Hodges Leonard. He graduated from James A. Gray High School in 1957 and from NC State University in 1961. Upon graduation from NCSU, he was commissioned an officer in the Army Signal Corps. Jim and another lieutenant were selected to lead the advanced party to Thailand to work with and train the Thai army on the use of long-range communication equipment. After a year in Thailand, Jim rotated back to Fort Gordon and was released from the Army. He worked a year in the Washington, DC area before going back to graduate school at NCSU.

He graduated from NCSU with a master's degree in mathematics and accepted a position with Burlington Industries in Greensboro, NC. Jim worked for Burlington for 34 years in various positions and rose to be the manager of economic analysis and manager of Burlington's lobbying office in Washington, DC. For about 20 of those years, Jim was an advisor to the US Government, dealing with textile/apparel trade agreements with many foreign countries.

In 2001, Jim was asked to come to Washington as a government employee to run the committee he had been an advisor to for 20 years. He was then nominated by President George W. Bush to be deputy assistant secretary of commerce, having responsibility for textiles/apparel and all consumer goods. His last year in Washington, Jim was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in a very favorable article with his level of responsibility at the US Department of Commerce. Jim felt his time in Washington made a difference.

After he returned home, he consulted for the College of Textiles at NCSU and the NC Department of Commerce. Jim was known as a "credible" person with only a hand shake needed to close a deal. He returned to NC at the birth of his first grandson. Family was so important to him that he did not want to miss a moment in the life of grandchildren.

He was active in his church. He especially enjoyed being a Stephen minister and was closely involved with several care receivers in recent years.

His great joy in later life was being able to visit and care for his two grandsons. Until the grandsons reached school age, he helped to provide daycare one day every week. His great sorrow was not being able to see them grow-up. His great hope was that he and CeCe have instilled in their two sons, as their parents instilled in their children, Christian values that will lead them through life.

Jim is survived by his wonderful wife of 50 years, Cecelia Fulmer Leonard; sons James IV (Courtney) of Raleigh and John (Caitlyn) of Raleigh; and grandsons James V and Benjamin; brothers Ralph (Lib) Leonard of Mocksville, Donald (Joanna) Leonard of Winston-Salem; sister Carol (Calvin) Cobb of Houston, Texas.

A memorial service will be at Jamestown United Methodist Church, 403 East Main Street, Jamestown, NC 27282 on January 13 at 11 a.m. The family will receive family and friends in the Fellowship Hall after the service. Memorials can be made to Jamestown United Methodist Church for the music program or Building a Firm Foundation; Hospice Home at Highpoint, 1803 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262; or Jamestown Historical Society, 603 W. Main Street, Jamestown, NC 27282. (Affordable Cremations of Winston-Salem).

Textile Industry Mourns the Loss of Ken Langley

With great sorrow we report the sudden death, Saturday, October 14th, of Ken Langley.

Ken was the owner of K D Langley Fiber Services, a textile fiber testing laboratory. Ken also taught Textiles at UMass Dartmouth (Chancellor Professor) from 1968 to 2012. He was very active in the New England Section of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.

The arrangements are at Hathaways funeral home in Fall River, Massachusetts, Wednesday, the 18th, from 4-7pm. The church service is Thursday, the 19th, at 1 p.m., at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1956 Main Rd Tiverton, R.I. 02878.

Mark Kent, 1962 - 2017

Mark B. Kent, a Greenville businessman, community leader and self-described people-person who dove into his family’s textile legacy at a young age, died unexpectedly on Sunday night. He was 55. READ MORE HERE.

Joseph Lawrence Gorga, July 17, 1952 - July 22, 2017

Joseph L. Gorga, retired president and CEO of International Textile Group, passed away unexpectedly on July 22, 2017. READ HIS OBITUARY HERE

Paul O'Day, 1935 - 2017

The U.S. textile industry has lost one of its most effective advocates in Washington, and many of us in the industry mourn the loss of a true friend. Paul O'Day, President, American Fiber Manufacturers Association, died June 1st at age 82.

AMFA's press statement on Paul O'Day's passing is THIS LINK.

His obituary can be found here HERE.

Broughton Hayward “Brot” Bishop, February 17, 1929 - August 7, 2016

Broughton Hayward “Brot” Bishop died August 7, 2016 at his Portland, Oregon home from Parkinson’s disease. He was born February 17, 1927 in Portland, to Clarence M. and Harriet Broughton Bishop.

He grew up in NW Portland with his brother Mort (C. M. Bishop, Jr.) where he spent happy times playing sports, attending the Hillside School and developing many lifelong friendships. The highlights of his summers were the times spent in the Blue Mountains outside Dayton, Washington with his Broughton family cousins and other friends.

After a year at Lincoln High School, Brot attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, graduating in 1945. Brot joined the Marine Corps on his 18th birthday. Following his discharge from the Marines, Brot enrolled at Yale University and graduated in 1950 with Tau Beta Phi honors in Industrial Administration.

After attending Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (where he later received an honorary doctorate), Brot joined the family business, Pendleton Woolen Mills, full time in 1951. Brot was proud to continue the tradition established by his great grandfather Thomas Kay who came to Oregon in 1863 to pioneer the local woolen mill industry.

Brot took enormous pleasure from his work and his co-workers. He especially appreciated the many long term employees who contributed so much to Pendleton’s success. He valued the importance of the greater community. He coached youth football and served on many boards including his local water board, U.S. Bank, Phillips Academy Andover, Pacific International Livestock Exposition, American Textile Manufacturer’s Institute, Portland Junior Symphony, Riverview Cemetery, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, The Museum at Warm Springs and the Mission Mill Museum and was active in the Republican Party.

While business was a major focus of Brot’s life, his family was of the most importance. He married Mary Voss on February 8, 1956, after a lively and persistent courtship that began with a date skiing on Mt. Hood. Their marriage soon produced five children in seven years.

Family life was active and adventure filled, centering on team sports, skiing, hiking and fishing. Brot took great pride in meeting the formidable challenge of getting his large and slightly unruly family out of bed and into line before the Mt. Bachelor ski lifts started. He similarly enjoyed taking his children fishing on the Deschutes, which for the younger ones occasionally entailed floating behind him with a tight grip on his vest.

Brot will be fondly remembered for his generous spirit, kindness and humility as well as his great attention for detail. He had a wonderful wry sense of humor that often emerged during difficult times to bolster those around him. And, finally, he will be remembered for his perseverance which helped him weather the difficult last few years with astonishing good grace

The family would like to thank his caregivers, Cliff, Alethea, Chandrea and Rita and the staff at OHSU Parkinson’s Center for their thoughtful care and patience during the last years of his life. Also, many thanks to Gentiva Hospice for their kind assistance.

Brot is survived by Mary, his wife of 60 years, their children John (Suzanne), Charlie (Meg), Broughton Jr. (Kelley), Harriet Bakken (Jon) and Peter (Susan), and 14 grandchildren.

Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you make a contribution to one of the wonderful organizations supporting the Columbia River Gorge, a place that held a special place in his heart.

Mary T. O'Rourke. 1953 - 2016

O’Rourke, Mary Therese, died in her home on February 22,2016 in Ventnor, New Jersey, after a three-year battle with cancer. She was 62 years old. Devin Steele of http://www.etextilecommunications.com/, describe this as " Huge loss for our [textile] industry."

Ms. O’Rourke was born on June 29,1953 in Northeast Philadelphia to Irish-Catholic parents, Elizabeth (Bess) and William O’Rourke. Bess worked in the home and William was a fireman and dockworker. Ms. O’Rourke was one of eight children. She attended Cardinal Dougherty High School and Penn State University. As a child, she was an accomplished baton twirler who performed in numerous competitions, parades, and even appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Ms. O’Rourke began her career at the retail end of the textile and apparel supply chain as a fabric buyer at Sears Roebuck. In 1978 she joined Werner Associates, at the time the world's leading textile consulting group. She brought a new focus and dimension to Werner's business and developed a strong marketing and strategy practice, which she led as Executive Vice President. In 1999 she founded O'Rourke Group Partners and as President and CEO, has led the company to its preeminent position as the world's leading textile and apparel consulting group. Over the last 16 years, she and her team have counseled more than 650 blue-chip clients in 48 countries. Ms. O’Rourke loved the challenge and the travel that her work involved, as well as mentoring young executives. Her personal expertise, industry, and integrity have stamped her career.

Ms. O’Rourke married her childhood friend, Edward Scannapieco in 1975. The two had one daughter, Maureen Scannapieco. They divorced in 1985 and remained friends.

In 2005, Ms. O’Rourke married Stephen Miller of Ventnor, New Jersey. They enjoyed an active lifestyle as residents of the Jersey Shore, attending concerts, Phillies games, fly fishing, socializing with friends, and traveling. What they enjoyed most however, was happy hour on their porch while looking at the water. Friends would come by in droves, stopping to chat as they went to the beach or walked their dogs. Ever the “organizer,” Ms. O’Rourke spearheaded neighborhood gatherings and the annual Christmas party.

Ms. O’Rourke considered Ireland her home away from home. She was well versed in Irish music, customs, and history. She adored the country’s people and its green patchwork hills. She visited as often as she could, and loved sharing her beloved Ireland with friends and family.

She volunteered with several organizations throughout her life including the New York Fire Department, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Spirit-Eagles Field Hockey Club, and the United States Field Hockey Association.

Ms. O’Rourke is survived by her husband, Stephen Miller, daughter and son-in-law Maureen (nee Scannapieco) and August Leming, step-daughter and son-in-law Lauren (nee Miller) and Daniel Carney, stepson, Stephen Miller, Jr., and grandson Jude Leming. She is also survived by five siblings and their families: William and Corky O’Rourke, Robert and Chris O’Rourke, Patricia and Carole O’Rourke, Dolores and AnthonyDelliColli, Margaret and Steve Blouin.

Mary O’Rourke will be remembered as a loving wife and mother, brilliant businesswoman, and a generous and fun-loving friend.

Her life will be celebrated with an Episcopal Mass at Holy Trinity Church, 2998 Bay Ave., Ocean City, NJ, on Saturday, February 27th at 11 a.m. Friends may call at the church beginning at 10:30. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Industry Advocate Jean Lineberger Passes

The BeaverLake6 Report notes that Jean Lineberger died May 27. Ms. Lineberger was the general manager of Brawer Technical Yarns of Cramerton, N.C., USA, a division of Brawer Bros. Inc. Prior to working for Brawer, she was a long time employee of Celanese and Hoechst-Celanese. Ms. Lineberger was a very active member of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), serving on its board of directors from 1989-1995. In 1986 she helped organized the United States Industrial Fabrics Institute, a division of IFAI that advocated for US policy decisions. She was also a long-time member of the US Department of Commerce's International Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC). Ms. Lineberger was recognized for her contributions to the industry when she was awarded the IFAI Honored Life Member status in 2005 and IFAI's Volunteer of the Year award in 2012. She was most recently recognized at the USIFI/NFI Outlook Conference just last week by being awarded the Inaugural USIFI Advocacy Award.

William Lucchesi 1943-2015, Flock Industry Leader

The American textile flocking industry mourns the loss of industry leader, William (Bill) Lucchesi. Bill passed away peacefully at home on March 2nd, 2015 after a long battle with leukemia. He was well known globally for his contributions to the flock industry. Click here for the full obituary.

Industry Giant Duke Kimbrell Dies, Aged 89

Our friend Deven Steele at eTextile Communications reported, October 22nd, the death, Tuesday of Duke Kimbrell, Chairman of Parkdale Mills. In 2004 Mr. Kimbrell was inducted into the Textile Hall of Fame by the American Textile History Museum.

Orville Willis Forte, 1918 - 2014

The American wool and cashmere trade mourns the loss of Orville Willis Forte. An obituary is available online at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=orville-willis-forte&pid=172370080

Keith Crisco, Textile Leader and Congressional Candidate Dies at Age 71

According to the Asheboro, N.C., Courier-Tribune Keith Crisco, co-founder of Asheboro Elastic and Democratic candidate for Congress died, suddenly, Monday, May 12th, at home.

In Memoriam

With sadness we said good-bye, in 2013, to these textile and fashion industry leaders and benefactors.

Sergio Loro Piana, 24 May 1948 - 20 December 2013

Werner Bieri, 11 February 1953 - 2 November 2013

William E. Giblin, 7 June 1935 - 5 November 2013

Edward Brook Stevens, 23 March 1922 - 11 May 2013

Philip Lehner, 24 October 1924 - 5 January, 2013

Marjorie B Osborne, 23 January 1910 - 28 April 2013

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Sergio Loro Piana Dies, Age 65

Sergio Loro Piana, age 65, died December 20th in Milan, after a long illness. Until the recent sale of the company to LVMH, Sergio and his brother, Pier Luigi Loro Piana, were co-principals of the Loro Piana company. He is survived by his wife, Maria Luisa, and their three children, and his brother Pier Luigi.

William E. Giblin, 1935 - 2013

William E. "Bill" Giblin, 78, passed away peacefully at his Tim's Point, Wareham, Massachusetts home, November 5th, surrounded by his loving family, after a long illness.

Bill is survived by his wife Gabrielle (Coyne) Giblin with whom he shared 55 years of marriage. Bill is also survived by his four sons, David Giblin(Betsy), children Ryan and Grace of Jacksonville, FL, Karl Giblin, son Dylan of Wareham, Michael Giblin (Kathy), children Sean, Kaitlyn, Connor of Glastonbury, CT and Steven Giblin (Denise) children Brandan and Jayden of Norton and his sister Judith (Bill) Pittman and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill received from UMass Dartmouth both a Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering in 1957 and an honorary Doctor of Business Administration in 2006 and generously gave of his time and resources to his alma mater, serving on the Textile Advisory council and the UMass Foundation Board. Bill was a vital leader in the textile industry nationally and a dedicated supporter and ardent advocate of UMass Dartmouth; his long and significant service helped shape the future of both.

After graduation, Bill held a number of positions with companies in the textile industry, rising to the level of Vice President with Burlington Industries. Bill had retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tweave Inc. of Norton, Mass.

Bill was a strong advocate for the U.S. Textile industry, playing a leadership role in numerous trade organizations, including serving as a member of the Board of Governors of the Northern Textile Association, and Chairman of the National Textile Association. Bill served as a Trustee of the University of Massachusetts from 1994 to 2004, in many capacities, including Vice Chairman of the Board. He was appointed to the Building Authority in 1996 and accepted the position of Chairman in 2004.

OBITUARY

Werner Bieri Dies, Aged 60

Werner Bieri, the founding CEO of Buhler Quality Yarns, has passed away after a long fight with leukemia according to a report in Just Style

Edward Brook Stevens, 1922 - 2013

Stevens, Edward Brooks, aged 91, of North Andover, Massachusetts, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2013. Mr. Stevens was born in Lowell in 1922, the eldest son of the late Ames Stevens and the late Phyllis Brooks Stevens. He was educated at the Groton School (class of 1940) and Harvard University (class of 1944), and served in the 20th Armored Division of the U.S. Army in the Second World War. Before leaving for France in 1944, he was married to the former Ann C. Johnson of Norwich, Conn. Upon his return to the U.S., the couple settled in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and in 1947, Mr. Stevens began working for the family business, Ames Textile Corporation. Over the years, Mr. Stevens worked his way through the business to become its president and chairman of the board, and he and his wife became the parents of four children. After a fire destroyed their home in 1963, the family moved to Andover, where they remained until 1987, when Mr. and Mrs. Stevens settled into a family home in North Andover.

During a long and distinguished career in the textile industry, Mr. Stevens developed the business in the U.S. and expanded it to Europe. He made many friends along the way, and wrote a memoir of his career that he called, The Time of My Life. He was also a director of the State Street Bank and a trustee of the Lahey Clinic. Mr. Stevens was a philanthropist and served on many non-profit boards, including the Boys and Girls Club of Lowell, the United Way of the Merrimack Valley, and Ironstone Farm’s Challenge Unlimited program for disabled children and adults. As chairman of the board of the American Textile History Museum, he led a successful campaign to move the museum to a large space in a former mill building in Lowell and to bring it to national prominence. He also volunteered in the Executive Service Corps of New England, helping a wide variety of non-profit agencies raise funds for service programs and working with them to develop their boards and business plans.

A lifelong interest in travel and history carried him to six of the seven continents. He was also an avid skier, golfer, tennis player, and dancer. His unflagging enthusiasm and zest for life earned him the affection of his friends and the love of his large family. He was close to his brothers, George Stevens and the late Ames Stevens, Jr. and to his sister, Priscilla Stevens Rutherford, to their spouses, and to many nieces and nephews. He is survived by his devoted wife of 69 years, Ann Johnson Stevens, his beloved children Peter Brooks Stevens of Rico, Colorado, Lynn Stevens Lenhart of Chappaqua, N.Y. and her husband, the Rev. J. Thomas Lenhart, Jonathan Ames Stevens of Carlisle, Mass. and his wife, Priscilla Stone Stevens, and Mother Seraphima (Jane Adams Stevens), of Ouzinkie, Alaska. He is also survived by five much-loved grandchildren: Amanda B. Lenhart and her husband Scott B. Smallwood, James E. Lenhart and his wife Dipti K. Lenhart, Katherine S. Getchell and her husband Greg J. Getchell, Abigail A. Lenhart and her husband Jonah I. Zwemer, and Clifford S. Stevens and his wife, Tiffany D. Stevens. His five great grandchildren, who were his delight, are Sophia Getchell, Arun Lenhart, Oliver Zwemer, Natalie Getchell, and Katherine Smallwood.

His burial will be a private service. At a later date, to be announced, a memorial service to honor his life will be held in Andover. To sign the family guest book, please visit www.contefuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Conte Funeral Home, 17 Third Street, North Andover.