REMEMBERING ART PAINTER
By Judith Nancekivell, Senior Publisher
The man known to many in Canada's plastics industry as "Uncle Arthur" is no longer with us.
The man known to many in Canada’s plastics industry as “Uncle Arthur” is no longer with us.
Art Painter, who died May 30 at the age of 83, was associated with Canadian Plastics for over forty years, working his way up from advertising sales representative to publisher to group publisher.
Art was an active volunteer in organizing industry events, serving on many Plast-Ex show and conference committees. His service to the industry was recognized in 1984, when he was given a CanPlast Award by SPI Canada (the precursor to the Canadian Plastics Industry Association).
I was fortunate enough to have Art as my mentor. He hired me as editor back in 1981 and later promoted me to publisher. Along the way, I learned a great deal about the plastics industry and about business from Art.
Art loved to sell. It was fun for him. In fact, when he took semi-retirement in the early 1990s, he stayed on with the magazine for several years on a part-time basis, with a sales territory covering his best buddies in the industry.
He took a real interest in his clients’ businesses and went out of his way to help them. Several of today’s industry equipment veterans got their start in the business because of Art’s encouragement.
Art was a master of relationships. He came from a time when people in business cared about each other. When there was time to have lunch, and to return phone calls. When people talked to each other face to face. A time before emails and Blackberries.
I mourn his passing, just as I regret the passing of that kinder, gentler way of doing business.