TALA's Jack Stein Dies at 72
Apparel and textile transportation and warehousing executive Jack Stein died on Jan. 21 from complications resulting from cancer.
Stein’s career took him from Western Carloading to Steinway Express—a transportation company he launched with his wife, Wilma—to J-Wil, a warehousing and distribution company. He also launched apparel transportation company Roman Services/Rolo Transportation and served as vice president of sales for Operon Distribution, a Los Angeles– based warehousing and distribution company.
He later joined FurnitureCarriage.com as vice president. The company offered warehousing, distribution and transportation for furniture retailers, manufacturers and importers.
Vic Zamparelli, who worked with Stein at Western Carloading, described him as “smiling Jack, a good, solid guy who loved his Wilma every minute of the day.”
Zamparelli watched Stein rise from salesman to sales manager at Western Carloading before setting out on his own. He said he was unsurprised at Stein’s professional drive.
“He was a very likeable, industrious and ambitions guy—he had a lot of talent,” he said.
Stein was a California native who grew up in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War and attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Groton, Conn.
“Jack was a friend of many years,” said Hal Kaltman, TALA president and owner of Hal Kaltman Textiles. “As a group, we will miss him terribly and I will personally miss him. He was a very gentle human being.”
The Textile Association of Los Angeles named Stein, a TALA member since 1958, member of the year in 2000. His distinctive white beard and friendly demeanor landed him in the role of Santa for several years at TALA’s annual Christmas party for neighborhood children.
He is survived by his wife, Wilma, daughter Michelle, son Michael and granddaughter Emily.
