Maya Angelou wrote “a great soul never dies, it brings us together again and again.”
It is with this sentiment we commemorate the recent passing of John Hurst, co-founder and past President of the IRONMONGER inc. on 27 November 2021. He is survived by his wife of 26 years Georgia Hurst and their son Nicholas, and his eldest son Alexander.

John Hurst, founder and President The Ironmonger, Inc. – Photo courtesy of Mrs. Georgia Hurst

In the early seventies, John Hurst who hails from England and former business partner Christina Ranallo introduced iconic brands to the U.S. market. Starting first with exclusive rights to HEWI-NYLON (Germany) & MODRIC (UK), European modern hardware brands such as D-LINE (Denmark), F.S.B. (Germany), COLOMBO DESIGN (Italy), TECNOLINE (Germany) and others soon followed. This transformed a generation of designers and accounted for the company moniker of ‘America’s Source for Europe’s hardware.’

From the initial start as pioneer and distributor of modern European architectural hardware to architects and designers, today the name “IRONMONGER inc.” continues to garner respect nationwide and across Europe and is recognized as the forerunner and leading authority on European mechanisms and their applications in the United States.

John’s encyclopedic knowledge of and ability to demystify modern European hardware fittings coupled with his strong relationships with architects, designers, and hardware suppliers worldwide have made him a true Legend in the world of design. 

The Heart and Soul of the IRONMONGER, John Hurst will live on through all the lives he has touched, and all the ‘built spaces’ he inspired.