Obituaries

Jesse Smith Capel Has Died

Jesse Smith Capel, who joined the family rug business in 1957, has died at the age of 90.

Ron Couri, President & CEO Couristan, Has Died

Ronald J. Couri, president and CEO at Couristan, died March 1. Visitation will be held on Wed. March 15, with a funeral service on March 16.

Industry Veteran Ralph Long Has Died

Ralph M. Long, age 76, a rug industry veteran, died on  Feb. 8, 2023. Fondly known as “The Momeni Man," he represented many vendors, including Momeni, covering the territories of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi. 

Bed Bath & Beyond Mourns the Loss of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Gustavo Arnal

Gustavo Arnal, executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company, fell to his death Friday from a Manhattan skyscraper.

Mansour Yaghoubian, Founder of Mansour's Oriental Rug Gallery, Has Died

Third-generation rug expert Mansour Yaghoubian, founder of Mansour's Oriental Rug Gallery in California, has died.

Oriental Weavers CEO Ahmed Salama Has Died at 62

Oriental Weavers USA has announced that long-time CEO Ahmed Salama died peacefully surrounded by his family on June 4, 2022.

Blake Ryan Hill, Long-Time VP of National Accounts at Oriental Weavers, Has Died

Blake Hill, who served as vice president of national accounts at Oriental Weavers for more than two decades, has died at 47.

Neal J. McCarley, Noted Rug Buyer and Rug Rep, Has Died

Neal J. McCarley, a former rug buyer and an award-winning rug sales representative, died on Oct. 31, 2020, at his home in Plano, Texas.

Industry Icon Mirza Kalaty, Founder of Kalaty Rugs USA, Dies

Mirza Kalaty, who founded Kalaty Rug Corp.'s U.S. operation in 1979, has died at the age of 85.

NYC Consumer Protection Advocate Howard Tisch Dies at 81

RugNews.com mourns the loss of Howard B. Tisch, a passionate consumer advocate and groundbreaking NYC governmental regulations attorney, whose wife, Carol Tisch, is publisher of this news site.
RugNews.com Editors

Founder of Oriental Weavers Mohamed Farid Khamis dies at 80

The legendary businessman was well known for his business successes, philanthropy and efforts to bring new industries and opportunities to the people of Egypt.

Nourison Shares Tribute to Christopher Guy Harrison

Company to continue its support for the Christopher Guy Area Rug Collection license and partnership after design industry icon's passing.

British Luxury Furniture Designer Christopher Guy Harrison Has Died

The British designer founded his eponymous international  furnishings brand Christopher Guy in 1993.

Jon Morrison, Retired Sales VP for Dynamic Rugs, Dies at 73

The longtime Dynamic Rugs vice president of sales and marketing died suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020

Katalin Laszlo, Safavieh Designer, Dies at 41

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Textile Surface Design, she joined Safavieh in 2006 as a rug designer.

Central Oriental Co-Founder Peter Burnham Dies at 82

After beginning his career as a buyer for Filene's, Burnham, he went on to found Central Oriental in the mid-1980s

Doris Leslie Blau, Founder of NY Antique Rug Gallery, Has Died

 Legendary antique rug dealer Doris Leslie Blau, who founded her eponymous gallery in 1965, has died.

The Rug Show's Leader Ramin Mobayen Dies at 51

 The president of Mobayen Rugs in Beverly Hills, California, he went on to found The Rug Show.

Oriental Rug Retailer Frank S. Eways Sr. Dies at 80

Bill Roach, Retired Karastan Sales VP, Dies at 75

Longtime Karastan sales executive William "Bill" Roach died on June 26, 2019 at Grand Strand North Hospital in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, after a long battle with cancer.  He was 75.