Coatings Industry Mourns Robert Landzettel

Robert Landzettel, who served as mayor of Fair Lawn, NJ from 1973-74, passed away on May 22, 2023. He was 88.

Landzettel was born in Paterson and was raised in Fair Lawn. He graduated from Fair Lawn High School in 1953 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University in 1957. He also served in the U.S. Army.

Landzettel was active in Fair Lawn, serving as president of the Fair Lawn Chamber of Commerce as well as chairman and member of the Fair Lawn Zoning Board.

He was active in the paint and coatings industry as well, as he was the owner of Landzettel & Sons, Inc. in Fair Lawn and was a past president of Metro New York Paint and Coating Association (MNYCA).

“It’s very difficult for me to express the sadness the death of Bob (affectionately known as Uncle Bob to those in his employ) has brought to our work family,” said Marion R. Kotran of Landzettel & Sons. “I personally have worked with Bob for 35 years and in that time he taught me not only about the paint business but the loyalty and integrity of representing the Landzettel name.  He is truly missed each and every day.”

“I would describe Bob as a man of integrity, a true gentleman, a community leader, a genuine friend and a family man, who made them all of them work together,” said Tom Heiss, president, Advanced Protective Products.

Jeff Weiss, president of Target Coatings, noted that Landzettel & Sons has been Target Coatings’ manufacturing partner since 2010. He said that Landzettel had “carefully guided and coached me out of the most difficult financial period of the early 21st century, the Great Recession of 2008.

“To ensure that I could focus on growing my business, Robert helped me navigate financial responsibilities to remain within the guardrails of good business practices, providing the stability required to take my business to the next levels of success,” Weiss added. “Robert remained a gentleman and a professional during our entire business relationship.

“He and his partners at Landzettel & Sons provided my business the best opportunities possible to succeed in the paint and coatings industry,” Weiss concluded. “Robert Landzettel was an excellent business mentor and guide. I will always look back on our relationship with mutual respect.”

Leaders from the MNYCA remember Landzettel as a true gentleman.

MNYCA president Dave White, who is VP technical sales at Pan Technology, noted that Landzettel served as president of the MNYCA from 2000-2001, and received the David H. Litter Distinguished Service Award in 2005. He said that his family appreciated the quality they received from Landzettel and Sons.

“My grandfather, who was a very precise individual, and my father would not use any paint unless it was Lazon Paint, which came from Landzettel and Sons,” White recalled.

“Robert was a very knowledgeable person for the paint industry,” said Bruce Schimmel, director of strategic partnerships for Superior Materials, Inc. “He was very soft spoken but was a true gentleman. I can remember when I got on the MNYCA board he told me I can call him anytime to ask questions and he would be glad to help me. He was very warm and always made me feel as if I belong. He was a really good guy.”

“Robert Landzettel was a great member and supporter of the MNYCA over the years, serving as president and given the prestigious David H. Litter Distinguished Service Award,” said Tom Daquila, VP sales at Eagle Specialty Products. “Bob always conducted himself as a true professional in a very low-key sociable manner.”

Landzettel is survived by his wife Arlene; sister Betty Kasperski; sisters-in-law: Gail Landzettel, Joyce Parodi, Blanche Candage and several nieces and nephews.