by Longtime executive at Sandberg Furniture remembered as a ‘leader, mentor and true gentleman‘
BALBOA ISLAND, Calif. — Albert A. Sandberg, a longtime furniture manufacturing executive and third-generation leader of Sandberg Furniture, died here late last year after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
He was 93 at the time of his death on Dec. 11, 2023.
Born April 22, 1930, in Los Angeles, he was the son of Arthur and Gladys Sandberg. After graduating from high school, he served in Korea in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged as a corporal on Dec. 11, 1952, according to an obituary in the Los Angeles Times. He then worked his way through college, graduating from the University of Southern California with a bachelor of science of business management in 1957.
The family business dates back to its founding around 1890 by Albert Sandberg’s grandfather, Martin Svensson, who immigrated to the U.S. from Sweden. It initially made baskets to haul groceries, but later shifted its emphasis to wooden bedroom furniture in Los Angeles in 1918 under the name Acme Furniture.
It later was renamed Sandberg Furniture, and in 2016 became Martin Svensson Home in honor of its founder. For many years, the company was the largest bedroom manufacturer in the West before shifting to an all-import model around 2018.
According to Albert’s son, John Sanberg, now chief executive officer and a fourth-generation leader of Martin Svensson Home, his father worked full time for Sandberg Furniture Manufacturing Co. throughout his time at the university and never really retired.
Sandberg told Home News Now that his father started working at the plant when he was a student, then after graduating from USC held many executive roles at the company, including vice president of sales, vice president of production, and later president and board chairman.
“Dad loved talking shop up until his last days at home,” John Sandberg said. “Dad started in the business sweeping floors at the factory, and was the heart and soul of the company for so many years as the third generation of the business, started in 1918. He loved coming into the office right up until Covid hit and it was just no longer possible. He was so loved by our many customers and respected by even our closest competitors.”
In addition to serving as an executive at Sandberg Furniture for many years, Albert Sandberg was also a past president of the California Furniture Manufacturers Association and also served on the board of directors of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, now the American Home Furnishings Alliance.
“Dad (Al to his friends) was not just a man,” his obituary in the Los Angeles times stated. “He left an indelible mark on all that had the good fortune of knowing him. He was known in his personal life as a generous and giving man, a sportsman and a traveler; he was respected in his business career as a leader, an entrepreneur, a mentor, a terrific salesman (always) and above all else, a true gentleman.”
“To say he was an active sportsman all his life is an understatement,” the obituary continued. “A self-taught snow skier at age 16, he loved the sport for almost 70 years. At age 65, he learned to snowboard because he wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren. While he loved the snow, he was also an avid boater, water-skier, bicyclist, long-board surfer, scuba diver and hot-rod enthusiast.”
He was married to his first wife, Delores, for 45 years until her death in September 1995. He later met Jeannette Gallantine, a widow, at a line dancing class, and they were married in 1997 and “spent many happy and wonderful years traveling and enjoying their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” the obituary continued. “We are eternally grateful that Jeannette was a part of Dad’s life these many years.”
