Thomas "Tom" Lias, a longtime furniture executive and advocate for people with disabilities, died Saturday in Florida at the age of 77.
When he retired as CEO of Gorman’s Home Furnishings in 2023, Lias had spent more than 50 years in the industry. He was honored as a Detroit News Michiganian of the Year in 2022.
Lias was born on Dec. 28, 1946, in Youngstown, Ohio, where he grew up and graduated from Chaney High School. He served as a drill sergeant in the U.S. Army before attending Youngstown State and the School of Design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
After joining Gorman’s in 1983, Lias moved up in the company, becoming its president in 1996 and CEO in 2017. Prior to that, Lias was the co-owner and president of several La-Z-Boy stores in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and held positions at several Ethan Allen locations in Michigan.
Lias led Gorman's “100 brands” strategy, which helped the furniture and design retailer expand its brands to include premier lines including Lexington Home Brands, Hooker Furniture, Bernhardt and Stickley.
“If my career with Gorman’s has all been a dream, I couldn’t have had a better one," Lias said as he announced his retirement in 2023. "From our design and sales teams to warehouse personnel and our outside vendors and manufacturer reps, it’s been the best."
Lias was known as a mentor to many in the furniture industry and was recognized in 2017 with Furniture Today’s Champion of the Industry Award.
"Tom was an amazing businessman," John Moray, CEO of Gorman’s said in a statement. "He had a unique ability to balance a keen focus on the bottom line with a deep appreciation for art and design. His ability to buy to appeal to a vast majority of customers helped Gorman's develop its unparalleled competitive edge. At the same time, he created an environment where employees could thrive, empowering his team, giving them the autonomy to make decisions and run the business daily, while still providing overall strategic guidance. Tom truly loved what he did, and he was exceptionally good at it. We are deeply grateful for his contributions."
In addition to his work in the furniture industry, Lias, a longtime Troy resident, was involved for more than 20 years with the nonprofit The Arc of Oakland County, an organization that serves people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Lias reached out to the organization as he and his wife cared for their son who has Fragile X syndrome, which impacts brain development. Over the years, Lias served in various capacities for the organization’s board of directors, including as its president.
Lias's selection as a 2022 Detroit News Michiganian of the Year was in recognition of his work with The Arc of Oakland County.
“I'm just grateful that I've been able to have even a smallest of impact on our organization,” Lias said at the time.
Lias, who had a knack for marketing, was instrumental with the rebranding the organization’s Etheridge Plan, now known as The Arc’s Forever Plan, a program that advocates for people with intellectual impairment or other developmental disabilities after their parents or guardians are no longer able to handle their affairs.
The death of Lias is an immense loss for the community, said Dawn Calnen, executive director of The Arc of Oakland County.
"He leaves a legacy through the community partnerships that he promoted to help people with disabilities live their best lives ..." Calnen said. "He promoted community partnerships. So he didn't just serve The Arc of Oakland County, but he wanted to spread awareness in the community of how they could help serve the needs of folks with developmental disabilities."
Calnen said this past year was the 16th year that Gorman's held a fundraiser for the organizaiton.
"His legacy will live on," Calnen said.
Even after moving to Florida last year, Lias kept in touch with The Arc of Oakland County. In the last correspondence she had with him, Calnen said Lias mentioned he planned to connect with a chapter of The Arc in Florida.
“He was a supporter for as long as he lived,” she said.
Among his hobbies, Lias was a passionate golfer and bowler. He had his first perfect 300 game at the age of 18.
Tom is survived by his wife of 42 years, Christine “Chris,” son David, brother Charles (Barb) Lias, Uncle Dock (Barb) Lias, and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws and nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Lias's life will be announced at a future date. In memory of Lias, contributions may to The Arc of Oakland County at (https://www.thearcoakland.org/) or the National Fragile X Foundation (https://fragilex.org/).
cwilliams@detroitnews.com
@CWilliams_DN
