Textile Exec Sisselman Remembered
Longtime textile executive Richard Sisselman was recently remembered by family and coworkers for his irreverent sense of humor and his dedication to the textile industry.
Sisselman died in August of cancer. He was 56.Sisselman had most recently been sales manager for Vernon, Calif.-based knit mill SAS Textiles. Sean Sassounian, owner of SAS, described Sisselman’s seven years with the company as integral to getting the converting operation off the ground by putting the company’s sales force together and helping to merchandise the line.
“He was more partner than employee,” Sassounian said.Sassounian also reminisced about Sisselman’s perseverance. “When we got busy he would go on the intercom in the knitting mill at least 10 times a day and say ’keep ’em cranking,’” he said.
The SAS owner added, “This industry will not be the same without Richie and his unconventional ways. When he passed on he left a hole that could never be filled.”
Sisselman’s sense of humor and his professionalism went hand-in-hand, according to his wife, Kandy.
“Richard had a heart of gold and went out of his way to help his customers,” she said. “I know he really loved what he did and I think it showed.”
A New York native, Sisselman got his start with East Coast fabric converters Cohn, Hall & Marks and Bretman Fabrics. But it was a sales job with New York-based Winky Textiles that eventually brought him to California 20 years ago. Michael Wincoff, owner of Winky Textiles, sent Sisselman to Los Angeles to open the Winky West office, according to Kandy Sisselman.
Sisselman worked for Winky West for nearly 10 years before moving on, first to the West Coast offices of New York-based Blackwatch Fabrics and New York-based Tandem Textiles, and then to Vernon-based Kronfli.
“He was a good friend, he was a wonderful father and he was fun,” said daughter Holly Sisselman, who noted that he will be greatly missed.
“The thing that best describes my dad is what he used to say to me: ’You’re my heartbeat,’” she added.
Sisselman is survived by his wife, daughter and brother, Ronald. —Alison A. Nieder
