National Clothesline

Theodore Fonk, 58, owner of Colorado Lace Dry Cleaners, passed away on Nov. 28, 2006 of a rare illness, CNS Vasculitis.

Mr. Fonk began his career in his family-owned cleaners at the age of 12, working as a janitor on Saturdays, sweeping the floors at the plant. Colorado Lace has been in the family for three generations, starting with his grandfather.

After college, he came into the business and wore many hats throughout his career, learning every aspect of the cleaning business from spotting, pressing to repairing drycleaning equipment. Nothing was too hard for him to learn.

After his father died, Mr. Fonk bought the business from his mother and proceeded to expand to 22 stores. In the industry he was known and respected for his knowledge of drycleaning, honesty and work ethic. He was involved in Methods For Management, Rocky Mountain Fabricare and a member of Varsity, of which he was president one year.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy, who is in the business, and children, Gwen (Jason) Kleinert, Tony (Katie) Fonk and one grandchild, Max Kleinert.

Alfred B. Garnetta Jr., the co-owner of South Hills Tailoring & Cleaning who some called the unofficial Mayor of Mount Washington (Pennsylvania), suddenly collapsed after eating dinner on Christmas Eve at his son ’s house in Green Tree and died hours later, on Christmas Day, at Allegheny General Hospital. He was 78.

“We called him the Mayor of Mount Washington,” his granddaughter, Kristi Bonacci of Whitehall, told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

“Everyone knew him and he knew everyone through the drycleaning business. He could always make you laugh. That was his personality. ”

The lifelong resident of Mount Washington dropped out of South Hills High School at age 17 and volunteered to serve in the Navy during World War II. When he was discharged two years later, he took a job driving a delivery truck for South Hills Cleaning.

That job lasted only one year, but Mr. Garnetta met his future wife, Adeline who was working as a clerk at the cleaning plant during that time.

After three decades working in management for a variety of companies, he and his son, Alfred Garnetta III, bought the drycleaning company in 1981 when the business went up for sale. Thus, at the age of 53, Mr. Garnetta owned the company that had given him his first job.

The family changed the name of the business to South Hills Tailoring & Cleaning to reflect the contribution of his wife to the business as a seamstress.

During the 26 years he ran the business as its co-owner, Mr. Garnetta worked six days a week driving the delivery truck just as he had in his youth and greeting customers at the front counter with a good-natured joke and a wide smile.

“I don’t think there are too many people in Mount Washington who didn’t know my dad,” said his daughter Alene Caughey, of Scott.

“He always had a witty remark for anyone who came in. He was a hardworking, kind, jovial guy. ”

In addition to his wife, daughter, son and granddaughter, Mr. Garnetta is survived by another grandchild and a great-grandson.

J. Edward “Eddie” Glover died on Dec. 26 from complications of a stroke suffered on December 8, a day after his 79th birthday. He and wife, Jeanie, who passed away in February of last year, were married for 55 years.

Mr. Glover grew up in Washington, DC, and spent most days at the boys club. He signed a baseball contract after high school and played in the New York Giants system for four years. After serving in the Marine Corps, he began working in the drycleaning industry in 1952.

He owned several drycleaning companies including Progressive Cleaners in Arlington, VA, Puritan Cleaners in Richmond, VA, and, in 1983, started the first One Price Cleaners in the northern Virginia metro area with several locations throughout Virginia and Maryland.

Mr. Glover gave back to the industry by serving as president of the Virginia Association of Launderers and Cleaners during 1960-61, and as president and chairman of the Varsity International Conference of Cleaners in 1992.

He also gave back to his community by sponsoring several projects that help families. His ongoing Puritan Cleaners “Coats for Kids” project has collected, cleaned and distributed over 250,000 coats to needy children in central Virginia.

He enjoyed golf throughout his life and always enjoyed traveling with friends.

Mr. Glover is survived by his son, Gary, in Richmond, VA, and daughter Gail, who lives in Coral Springs, FL. Contributions can be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, 1275 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 or www.bgca.org.