FLORENCE, Ky. — Albert “Al” Jordan, founder of Fabritec International, died May 5 in Naples, Fla., reports his son, John, president of the company.
After serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II and returning to earn his bachelor’s degree from Miami University, Jordan was hired as Sanitone junior engineer in 1951. (Emery Industries was the parent company of Sanitone, located in Cincinnati.) He was given territories servicing dry cleaners in Tennessee and later Chicago. He earned the position of sales promotion manager in the “heyday” of Sanitone National Advertising, later becoming general manager of the division and, finally, vice president of the Drycleaning Products Division.
As business turned down sharply in the 1970s, Jordan guided his division through difficult times to be spun off as Fabritec International. He bought the company in 1980 and constructed a brand-new headquarters and laboratory research facility to keep Sanitone innovative and unique.
“Al loved his industry friends and some competition,” son John recalls. “He enjoyed the trade shows and seminars, especially the New England Sanitone meeting. He was proud of his Japanese friends at the Hakuyosha Co. Always a great storyteller, Al had anecdotes and motivational talks for his employees, especially the new hires. Stemming from his love of football and coaching, he always had words of encouragement for customers, and was a mentor for younger generations.”
John Jordan called his father “the leader in defending our industry and promoting the value of dry cleaning and ‘protecting your wardrobe investment.’”
Al Jordan is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marcia; three children, Carolyn, Deborah and John, and their spouses; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family planned a private service.
An obituary published in The Cincinnati Enquirer indicates memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, 114 East Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45202, or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
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