LA QUINTA, CALIF.—Robert Rennie was the kind of person who stuck to you—be it friend, co-worker, mentor or more—probably due to spending more than 35 years working as a sales executive for flooring adhesive and installation companies. On Nov. 19, he lost his seven-month battle with leukemia and passed away at the age of 64.
Born July 22, 1946 in Vancouver, Wash., Rennie attended Portland State University pursuing a degree in business administration. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1969 where he served two years as a Specialist Five.
In 1971, after he got out of the Army, Rennie entered the flooring industry when he joined the sales team at Berkheimers’ Distributing. Three years later, he left to become a W.W. Henry Co., district sales manager out of Huntington Park, Calif.
That began a 26-year tenure with the adhesives manufacturer and saw him move up the sales ladder—in 1982, he was promoted to regional sales manager, and in 1994 became general sales manager/West, a position he held even after the company was purchased by Armstrong a couple of years later.
In 2000, Rennie left W.W. Henry and served as North American sales manager for carpet installation products maker Orcon. Then, in 2008, he joined Para-Chem as Pacific Region sales manager and remained with the company until his passing.
Doug Ray, executive director of the Floor Covering Distributor Alliance, knew Rennie for 30 years and said, “He was one of those unique salesman that could be professional and yet quickly become a friend. The only time I ever saw him frown was when I told him I didn’t like his price increases. Always with a smile and a laugh he had your interest at heart. The sincerity in his business life emanated from a solid personal core. The industry will miss a very good man. Bob’s passing has given all of us cause to appreciate the value of the friends we have. I, among many, will miss him greatly.”
Cathy Panagakos, vice president of Para-Chem, said, “Bob brought honesty to a new level. I was honored to work with him. Bob was elegant with his words and chose them carefully. He loved his family and was a true friend.”
Gary Verhey, president of FIANA, called him, “A true gentleman in the industry and always a great friend through the years.”
Rennie is survived by his wife, Lynn; son, Robert Blake; step daughter, Jennifer Fortune, and step-son Jonathan Shoda.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the national Leukemia Research Foundation, 3520 Lake Ave., Suite 202, Wilmette, Ill. 60091.