Walter Fleischman, Founder of Union USA,
dies at 82
Walter Fleischman, who capped a 40-year
career by founding Union Drycleaning Products USA, died of
pneumonia in Munich, Germany on August 20. He was 82.
Fleischman fled his native Germany as a
teenager after the Nazis had come to power. After making his
way to the United States with a stopover in Denmark, he
enlisted in the U.S. Army to help liberate his homeland.
Serving in the Fourth Armored division
under General Patton, he fought in major battles across France
and Germany and received a Purple Heart and the Silver Star for
his bravery. After the warm, he assisted in reconstruction
efforts in Germany before returning to the U.S.
He and his family started a diary farm in
the New York Catskills mountains in 1951. More than a dairy
farmer in those years, he also worked on various construction
projects, including pouring cement for the New York Downville
Dam, which became the main water supply for New York City, and
as a job foreman for the “Quick Way,” part of the
New York Thruway that linked Manhattan to the mountains.
His association with the cleaning industry
began in the early 1960s. He returned to Germany and got
involved in construction of laundries on army bases in Europe,
becoming acquainted with the new technology in drycleaning and
making improvements on the designs of the equipment.
Manufacturers such as Ringhoffer,
Seco-Multimatic and others took notice and sought his advice,
which he gave — and then some. He began selling the
equipment, introducing the machinery in new markets in the Near
and Far East and Australia. He returned to the U.S. and began
selling drycleaning machines here. Over the years he was
associated with various manufacturers including Fluormatic,
Miraclean, CleanLine and Bolton and he was the first to import
Girbau washers to the U.S. from Spain.
Fleischman introduced Union cleaning
machines to the U.S. market 12 years ago and served as founder
and president of Union Drycleaning Products USA, headquartered
in Hapeville, GA, until his retirement at the end of last year.
In a farewell letter to the industry at
the time, he commented: “The drycleaning industry has
undergone a series of major changes, which most recently
culminated in the introduction of new lines of products such as
more environmentally friendly machines and solvents. I have
cherished working with Union because Union has been the prime
source of innovation and development in the industry, and it
has been the place where we could and have made things
happen.”
At the time, he said he was looking
forward to spending time with his wife, Charlotte, and family,
and pursuing his life-long interest in horses.
Fleischman is remembered fondly by many of
those who worked with him.
“He was a true legend in our
industry and known by everyone for his thick white hair and the
twinkle in his eyes,” said Tom Sheridan of Union
Drycleaning Products USA. “We will all miss him and his
twinkle. He was truly a great man.”
Condolences may be sent to his family at
Lengmois Str. 3, Munich, Germany 81547.
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