The next VDTA/SDTA Convention & Show will be in
New Orleans, LA
February 27 - 29, 2012
at the Ernest Morial Convention Center

In Remembrance

In Memory of Howard N. Feist

Howard N. Feist, Jr., president of Alpine Air of America based in Massachusetts, died unexpectedly February 23, 2009, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from heart failure. Feist had been very  active  in the VDTA and exhibited at conventions and formed a bond  with many vacuum  dealers dating back to the late 1980s.  

Over the years Feist assisted Alexandria Barnett  with  her work with several wholesalers, including Steel City, Star for Parts, GV Wholesale, Buckeye and Viking Distributing. His no nonsense  ability to solve problems, and innovative  marketing prowess coupled with his  fix-it know how  went  a long  way with vacuum  dealers in  the  early  days of diversification into air purification.  Many will never forget his even keeled, perpetually optimistic voice at the other end of   the telephone ready to handle any problem. A lot of  the  vacuum  dealers  just  enjoyed  sharing  their daily  experiences  with  him before  the  advent  of chat  rooms and dealer  Web sites.   

Feist also had an impressive military and professional background. Text from his obituary in the Boston Globe  summarized it most succinctly:

“Feist was a decorated Veteran of Korean War, retired Colonel, USMCR and former commander, 1st battalion, 25th Marines. Graduate of Princeton, MIT and Harvard Business doctoral program. Professor, Babson Institute, industrialist, financier, entrepreneur and consultant. Avid oarsman and sailor. Master, Winslow Lewis Masonic Lodge. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.”

In recent years, Barnett has assumed Feist’s role with the vacuum industry. He worked with Barnett on the formation of the international and business-to-business sector of EcoQuest, now known as activTek. Barnett of Air Purifiers and now Alpine Air of America will continue to actively support the vacuum industry for both operations. She can be reached at 1-561-369-3329 or 1-800-442-1247; e-mail induct.air@gmail.com.

In memory of Howard Feist, Alexandria Barnett presented the association with a donation to the VDTA/SDTA Bernie Epstein College Scholarship Fund.

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, May 2009