Set-O-Matic founder Jerry Schantz recently passed away at the age of 90.
Mr. Schantz had been involved in the commercial laundry business since his teen years, serving the industry in several facets – from the distribution of washers and dryers to the manufacturing of coin boxes to becoming a master distributor for many of the industry’s leading brands.
In addition, Jerry led the charge into the electronic/digital age in the 1980s with the introduction of the first electronic drop coin meters, back when the laundry industry was using only coin slides and mechanical timers.
Schantz – along with his son, Michael – continued to innovate and bring new payment technologies to the laundromat industry with the introduction of credit card acceptance in 1993. It was the industry’s first hybrid system that enabled customers to use any form of payment. That system set the stage for payment acceptance within the industry for the next 30 years.
“Jerry was one of the true innovators in our industry,” noted CLA President and CEO Brian Wallace. “We wouldn’t be where we are today if not for his vision, commitment, and willingness to take risks to bring new ideas to the market. He will be sorely missed, but his integral contributions to the laundry business will be remembered and appreciated for years to come.”
Jerry retired from Set-O-Matic in 2007, when he and his wife, Muriel, relocated to Florida. And, today, the company he founded is in its third generation and thriving on the culture that Jerry Schantz helped build.
“He was a loving father, grandfather, leader, mentor, and friend,” said Gregg Schantz, Jerry’s grandson and the current president of Set-O-Matic. “He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him, as well as by the industry he loved and helped develop. His legacy will surely live on.”
