Frederick George Lubker Jr., 76, died December 7, 2018, in Stone Harbor, NJ. He founded Lufasco Inc. (Lubker Fastener Company) in 1967 and led the company until it was sold in 1998.

He started in fasteners in the early 60’s at Wynne Bolt & Screw Company of Philadelphia, when being a quick and accurate typist was key to landing office work. He advanced to inside sales rep as his passion and understanding of the fastener distribution business grew.

In 1967, with his third child recently born, he thought it time to venture out on his own. With an ‘open check’ loan from a supporting acquaintance, he started Lufasco. The story is that Fred wrote the ‘blank check’ in the amount of $1,000 – big bucks in those days, with a promise he quickly honored to repay. Realizing shortly there-after that he would need support to provide customer service, he asked Rich Procopio to join him. Lufasco grew to provide fasteners in the Mid-Atlantic region, especially to OEMs.

In 1984, he bought full ownership of Lufasco.

His son Rick joined Lufasco full-time basis and eventually sons Chris and Ben came aboard. The business grew from a single facility in Exton PA, adding branches in Morgantown, PA, Hagerstown, MD, and Rock Hill, SC. In 1998, he sold Lufasco to Purchased Parts Group of Memphis, TN.  He mentored his sons as Rick established Lubker Distribution in West Chester, PA; Chris became branch manager of Thruway Fasteners in Atlanta; and Ben moved to the finance industry.

He was an active member of the National Fastener Distributors Association and lectured on business entrepreneurship at industry events and college classrooms.

After the sale of Lufasco, Fred established Lubker Development, developing properties in the Southern New Jersey area. He was a member of St. Brendan the Navigator Parish St. Paul Church where he was an usher and attended daily mass. A member of Philadelphia Country Club and Ibis Golf & Country Club in West Palm Beach, he enjoyed golfing and boating.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Joanne M. Carrigan Lubker; his children, Pamela Lubker, Frederick Lubker, III, Christopher Lubker, and Benjamin Lubker; sister, Lois Miller; and nine grandchildren.

Messages to the family may be sent c/o: Lubker Distribution, 1304 Goshen Pkwy, PO Bx 1388, West Chester, PA 19380. Email: rlubker@lubkerdist.com