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Furniture Designer Adrian Pearsall Dies at 85
September 7,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Obituaries on September 8, 2011
Adrian Mount Pearsall, furniture designer, yachtsman, and philanthropist died in his sleep Tuesday at age 85.
Pearsall was born Sept. 18, 1925, in Trumansburg N.Y., and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following the war, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in architectural engineering, class of 1950.
He left the architectural field after two years to found Craft Associates, becoming one of the country's most prominent furniture designers during the mid-century "Atomic Age." With the help of his wife, Dorie, he began building furniture in the basement of their Kingston, Pa., home, and selling pieces from the back of their truck to Macy's, Wanamaker's, and other prominent New York and Philadelphia department stores.
Joined by his brother Richard, Craft Associates went on to become one of Wilkes Barre's top employers in the 1950's and 1960's. Known for his daring designs which brought high style to the masses, he is credited with the creation of long and low gondola sofas, free-form walnut and glass tables, and the popularization of the venerable bean bag chair. As an industry testament to his achievements, Adrian was nominated for consideration into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 2008.¨¨After selling Craft to the Lane company in the late 1960s, he went on to launch a new company, Comfort Designs with business partner John Graham, and successfully transitioned from the atomic age, into the "comfort" look of the 1970s and 1980s. Pearsall eventually left the furniture business, but never really retired. His passion for preservation and meticulous craftsmanship led him to the hobby of classic yacht restoration, where he is credited with rescuing and personally restoring several treasured vessels.¨¨A philanthropist for causes large and small, he was private about his contributions, but most notably personally designed and with his brother Richard funded a new home for the Ulysses Historical Society, based in Trumansburg, N.Y. in the spring of 1998.
In addition to his wife Dorie and brother Richard, he is survived by his children, Adrian James Pearsall and wife Shauna, Dr. Cindy Pearsall Sussman and her husband Steve, and Jed Pearsall and his partner Bill Doyle, and his five grandchildren.¨¨Viewing services will be held at Snowdon Funeral Home, Shavertown Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 10th, 4-7 p.m. followed, by a funeral on Sunday, 2 p.m. at Church of Christ Uniting, Kingston Pa. ¨¨Memorial gifts in honor of may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association and the SPCA of Luzerne County.