Gertrude Fuller on New York's East River in 1986.
To tell more about her history in the wood flooring industry, the editors thought it would be best to hear it directly from the person who knew them best, their son Greg, who played an integral role in their family business, Harvester, after his father passed away:
Gertrude “Gert” got her start in the hardwood flooring industry in the early 1960s through her social life with her then-boyfriend, Robert “Bob” Fuller. Bob was an employee of Powernail Company in Chicago and was part of the Anstett Powernail Kart Racing Team—the kind of karts that go 150 mph 2 inches off the ground. Bob and Gert eventually moved to New Jersey, where Robert was a regional salesman for Powernail. In 1975 Bob left Powernail, Gertrude had a baby and they started Harvester Chemicals Inc., a chemical manufacturing company based in Irvington, N.J., that originally produced clear lacquers and oil-based polyurethanes for wood floors.
Bob and Gert were a synergistic team that made things happen: Bob was the face of the company, doing product development, sales, delivery and manufacturing, while Gert was behind the scenes ordering raw materials, planning inventory, establishing pricing, designing labels and marketing materials, making sure they got paid and paying all the bills. Over the years, the company evolved and began repairing machinery and manufacturing hand tools, machine parts and eventually a full line of floor sanding machinery. They also sold all major brands of finish, machinery and sundries.
Robert, Gertrude and Greg Fuller at Greg's graduation from the University of Connecticut in 1997.
Bob passed away in 1998, and Gert was diagnosed with breast cancer that same year. Despite the hardship that came that year, Gert took the reins at Harvester and, with my help, continued what she and her husband had started 23 years earlier. Gert proceeded to grow the company with new and innovative products and great service for 13 more years. On top of manufacturing and distributing ever-evolving machinery and finishes, she also started a division to distribute wood flooring, as well.
Gert always believed that her employees and her customers were her family, and she did everything she could to lift up those people around her. Harvester closed in 2011, but Gert still worked in the industry with the Standard Canvas Company selling flooring sandpaper and doing purchasing with Davco Supply until her passing on October 27, 2018. She was a quiet leader in the industry and will be greatly missed.
Gert and Bob had many friends throughout the industry, among them Kevin O'Leary at KO Floor Supply in Riverdale, N.J. “Gert was a wonderful, honest and dedicated person to our industry,” O’Leary told WFB. “She was always sincere and had a great sense of humor. When we spoke, laughter was always present in our conversation as we reminisced about the old times. She will be deeply missed."
Lenmar's Janet Sullivan was also a longtime friend and industry colleague. "I have known Gertrude and the Fuller family for maybe 30 years. She was a great friend and customer who I learned from a lot early in my career," Sullivan told WFB. "I would talk to her for hours about the industry as well as raising an only child. She always had an open ear and would give me advice—I usually heeded her advice."
The family suggests that donations in Gert's memory be made to Toni’s Kitchen, 73 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ 07047.
