Monday, January 14, 2008
LONGTIME SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RV INDUSTRY LEADER PASSES
RV Business
January 14, 2008
Dave Altman, founder of prominent Southern California dealership Altman’s Winnebago and a respected voice in the RV industry, died early Saturday (Jan. 12) following a bout with a cancer. He was 63.
Altman's involvement in industry affairs included serving as president of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association’s (RVDA) board of directors (1977-78) and most recently as chairman of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation Inc.’s board of directors in Elkhart, Ind. Last August, Altman emceed the induction ceremony at the newly constructed facility for 12 new members to the Hall of Fame roster before a dinner crowd of 450.
Altman’s Winnebago currently operates Southern California retail centers in Carson and Colton, while the company’s original Baldwin Park location, founded by Altman in 1971, had been slated for eminent domain closure by the end of the year, according to Dave’s brother, Joe Altman, vice president and general manager.
Joe Altman had been maintaining regular blog postings regarding his older brothers’ condition since he was first hospitalized on Thanksgiving morning for emergency brain surgery that wound up involving a cancerous brain tumor.
Saturday’s blog entry included: “For his family, the lights on earth became a bit dimmer, but the stars in the sky have never shined brighter. The prayers and kind wishes of everyone made Dave’s final days with us filled with great peace. Those prayers are also giving those of us who survived Dave the strength, courage, and tranquility to continue.”
Altman was preceded in death by his daughter Cheryl, father Gary, and mother Lillian. He is survived by his wife Marla, daughters Tina and Debbie, son Steven, nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, six sisters and a brother.
Funeral services will be held Friday morning at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, Calif.
January 14, 2008
Dave Altman, founder of prominent Southern California dealership Altman’s Winnebago and a respected voice in the RV industry, died early Saturday (Jan. 12) following a bout with a cancer. He was 63.
Altman's involvement in industry affairs included serving as president of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association’s (RVDA) board of directors (1977-78) and most recently as chairman of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation Inc.’s board of directors in Elkhart, Ind. Last August, Altman emceed the induction ceremony at the newly constructed facility for 12 new members to the Hall of Fame roster before a dinner crowd of 450.
Altman’s Winnebago currently operates Southern California retail centers in Carson and Colton, while the company’s original Baldwin Park location, founded by Altman in 1971, had been slated for eminent domain closure by the end of the year, according to Dave’s brother, Joe Altman, vice president and general manager.
Joe Altman had been maintaining regular blog postings regarding his older brothers’ condition since he was first hospitalized on Thanksgiving morning for emergency brain surgery that wound up involving a cancerous brain tumor.
Saturday’s blog entry included: “For his family, the lights on earth became a bit dimmer, but the stars in the sky have never shined brighter. The prayers and kind wishes of everyone made Dave’s final days with us filled with great peace. Those prayers are also giving those of us who survived Dave the strength, courage, and tranquility to continue.”
Altman was preceded in death by his daughter Cheryl, father Gary, and mother Lillian. He is survived by his wife Marla, daughters Tina and Debbie, son Steven, nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, six sisters and a brother.
Funeral services will be held Friday morning at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, Calif.
