Bill Dearing, President of NALFA, Dies

Washington, DC, October 27, 2016—E.C. “Bill” Dearing, president and founding member of the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA), passed away October 24 at the age of 75.

Dan Natkin, NALFA CFO and marketing chairman, spoke on behalf of the NALFA membership. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our president and esteemed colleague, Bill Dearing. At NALFA’s founding, Bill led the charge to bring order to, what was at the time, a chaotic new laminate flooring industry in North America. The many of us working in the laminate flooring industry today are the beneficiaries of his pioneering work.”

A stalwart presence in the flooring industry for more than two decades, Dearing served as president of NALFA since its founding in 1997. Smart and business-minded, he drove NALFA’s original mission to develop and enforce standards for laminate flooring in North America and worked tirelessly to grow the association’s membership. He remained a staunch advocate and leader for the laminate flooring industry throughout the years.

Dearing spent fourteen years with Pergo—starting as director of business specialty in 1993 and moving to director of sales specialty in 2003. In 2007, he took a position as national manager of the Torlys brand, where he worked until his passing.

Early in his adult life, Dearing joined the Marines. There, he became acquainted with martial arts. Dearing continued studying martial arts after his discharge from the Marines, including judo, jujitsu, Shotokan Karate and Kenda. Dearing also wrote two martial arts novels: Te Waza, A Novel of the Martial Arts and Shime Waza, The Breath Stealer.

Dearing is survived by his wife, Roula; his five children, Denise Bastiani, Chris Dearing, Danielle Martin, James Blackburn, Adam Blackburn; and his eight grandchildren, Gabrielle Martin, Spencer Martin, Zak Bastiani, Max Bastiani, Christian Dearing, Kelsey Dearing, Kenzie Dearing and Marina Blackburn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dearing’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.