Fred Starr

Frederick Brown Starr, an industry veteran and long-time executive at Thomasville Furniture and Natuzzi, died April 1 at Moses Cone Hospital here due to complications from the coronavirus. He was 87. Starr was born Dec. 11, 1932 in Springfield, Mass. He attended St. Andrews School in Middletown, Del. and graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in 1955 with a BA in English. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. He joined Armstrong World Industries in 1957 in a sales assignment and later was promoted to several management positions. In 1974, he joined Thomasville Furniture Industries., a subsidiary of Armstrong, and became president and CEO in 1982. During his tenure, the company’s annual sales tripled to more than $500 million. It also achieved high levels of profitability. After leaving TFI in 1998, Starr spearheaded an unsuccessful campaign to bring a major league baseball team to the Triad. He also served as President of the Piedmont Triad Partnership. In 2001, he came out of retirement to become President and CEO of Natuzzi Americas, headquartered in High Point, NC. He left Natuzzi in 2008 and most recently has served as Chairman and CEO of Thompson Traders, a specialty kitchen and bath manufacturer. “I like the mental challenges of business,” Starr said in a 2001 interview with the News & Record. “And I love the furniture industry.” Fred supported his community in a number of ways, notably as Vice Chairman of University of North Carolina, Greensboro. He also was Chairman of the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival; Board member and Honorary Chairman of the PGA Wyndham Championship; Treasurer of Reynolda House Museum of American History; Board Member of High Point University; and Board President of the Eastern Music Festival. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sue Zook Starr, three children: Jonathan Starr and Kate Schoff of Annapolis, MD; Curtis Starr and wife, Amy, of Fairfax, VA; and Anne Denny and husband Glenn, of Greensboro; seven grandchildren Will, Hannah, Sam, Calla, Natalie, Alex, and Christopher; and several nieces and nephews. A private service for the family will be held followed by a memorial service at a date to be announced to celebrate Fred Starr’s life with his many friends and family. Memorial donations can be made to the Eastern Music Festival, PO Box 22026, Greensboro, NC 27420.