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FAIRFIELD — Our "Buddy" in the carpet business died Wednesday night.

Burton "Buddy" Kallick, co-founder of Buddy's Carpet Barn, was known for his commercials telling people, "You have a Buddy in the carpet business." He was 76.

Buddy's Carpet Barn was born in 1983 when Kallick joined former boss Leif Rozin and his business, the Carpet Barn, on Ohio 4 in Fairfield. The two went on to build one of the largest specialty flooring companies in the region.

His son, Mark Kallick, said his father had been sick for a while with cancer and died at the Hospice Care Center of Northern Kentucky at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday.

"My dad just very much enjoyed the public and promoting the business," he said. "He got a lot of enjoyment and a lot of pleasure out of it."

Kallick and Rozin sold their business in 2000 and it was renamed Buddy's Carpet & Flooring. Both men stayed on with the company as consultants until 2002.

"He had a full, active life with his business and he was fully ready to retire and enjoy retirement," his son said.

Buddy's President and Chief Executive Officer Ben Goodyear said everyone associated with the company is saddened by Kallick's passing.

"Although Buddy has not been involved in the management or ownership of Buddy's Carpet & Flooring for many years, he still had many friends throughout the entire floor-covering industry, not just in Cincinnati but everywhere," Goodyear said in a prepared statement. "All who knew him will remember him as a warm and caring gentleman who will be sorely missed. We send our deepest condolences to his family at this time of loss."

Dan Goebel, vice chairman of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said Kallick's loss is big in the business community.

"The loss of the business mind and the personality both is something that can't be recovered. He took years to become who he was and establish his business," said Goebel, also owner of Receptions Banquet and Conference Center.

Goebel remembered how he met Kallick on a gambling boat cruise off the Florida coast. The emcee on the cruise asked for someone to show an Ohio driver's license to win a prize. Goebel went up and the emcee said announced that he was from Cincinnati.

In the crowd, Goebel heard Kallick's distinct voice, "Cincinnati. I'm from Cincinnati."

The two had dinner that night on the cruise. It was the only time he met the man.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. at Weil Funeral Home, 8350 Cornell Road. Kallick will be interred at the United Jewish Cemetery, 7885 Ivygate Lane, Montgomery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Adath Israel Synagogue Rabbi's Discretionary Fund.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.