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David Lesser, 82, furniture agent, association chief

David I. Lesser was a good enough friend to Robert Petril that Mr. Lesser and his wife, Gale, shared both of Petril's honeymoons.

David L. Lesser
David L. LesserRead more

David I. Lesser was a good enough friend to Robert Petril that Mr. Lesser and his wife, Gale, shared both of Petril's honeymoons.

The Lessers "took us away to a timeshare in Newport, Rhode Island, which they owned," Petril said, soon after Petril married his first wife, Sherry, in the early 1990s.

Vacationing from their two apartments, "it was a wonderful time for the four of us."

After his first wife died, Petril said, "I became engaged while out to dinner with David and Gale."

A week after Petril married his second wife, Alicia, in 2011, the Petrils went on their honeymoon, which happened to be a Mediterranean cruise, with the Lessers.

What both sharings said about Mr. Lesser, Petril said, was that "over the years, we formed a trust where we were like brothers."

On Thursday, July 23, David I. Lesser, 82, of Cherry Hill, president in the 1990s of the Home Furnishings Association of the Delaware Valley, died of complications from pneumonia at home.

The wonder of their 40-year friendship, Petril said, was that they were also business competitors, working from their South Jersey homes as manufacturers' representatives for North Carolina furniture firms.

"The furniture industry is so closed," said Petril, who represented Bernhardt Furniture Co., "that there were many friends who were competitors. David and I were competitors.

"He managed, as I did, a multimillion-dollar business from his home office."

Their work, he said, was to be the middleman between factory and retail store.

In the early 1970s, Mr. Lesser briefly represented Broyhill Furniture and then Western Stickley, before beginning a 30-year career as the Delaware Valley agent for American Drew Furniture Co. of Greensboro, N.C., his son Gregg Lesser said.

What he sold, Gregg said, was "case goods," better known as "residential wood furniture."

About five years ago, he said, Mr. Lesser retired as the home-based national sales manager and customer service manager for Glen Arbor Furniture.

Mr. Lesser grew up in Upper Darby, graduated from Upper Darby High School, earned a bachelor's in business at Pennsylvania State University, and served as an Army mailman.

"When he was beginning basic training," his wife said, "he was out in a field" and as a storm approached, "his tent flew away."

Much later, he told his wife that he would help with their sons' Boy Scout efforts, but she said he told her, "I am not sleeping in a tent under the stars."

Mr. Lesser was a baseball pitcher for his high school and college teams, she said, and into his 70s was a pitcher for the softball team organized by the Wexford Leas Swim Club in Cherry Hill.

Besides his wife and son Gregg, Mr. Lesser is survived by sons Michael and Andrew, daughter Diane Fehder, and two grandchildren.

A visitation was set from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, at the Bradley Funeral Home, Route 73 and Evesham Rd., Marlton, before an 11 a.m. memorial life celebration there.

Donations may be sent to Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, Suite 300, Five Eves Dr., Marlton, N.J. 08053.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.bradleyfhmarlton.com.