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Steven P. “one of the Decent Boys” Mizerany

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Steven P. “one of the Decent Boys” Mizerany

Birth
St. Louis City, Missouri, USA
Death
15 Apr 2011 (aged 87)
Chesterfield, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA
Burial
Affton, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA Add to Map
Plot
Sec 42 Lot 276
Memorial ID
View Source
Mizerany, Steve fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Friday, April 15, 2011. Former husband and best friend of Sue Mizerany (nee Grant); dear father of Steven (Debra) Mizerany, Cathy, Stephanie (Donald) Dorris, Vincent Mizerany and Veronica (Dr. Barry) Miller; dear grandfather of Steven (Sarah) Dorris, Blake (Alena) Mizerany, Sydney and Grant Miller; dear great-grandpa of Alexis; our dear uncle, greatuncle and cousin. Services: Funeral from KUTIS AFFTON Chapel, 10151 Gravois, Mon., April 18, 9:15 a.m. to St. Raymond Maronite Cathedral for 10 a.m. Mass. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Contributions to St. Raymond Church Debt Reduction appreciated. Visitation Sunday, 2-8 p.m.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) - Sunday, April 17, 2011.

Steve Mizerany, the zany appliance dealer who roller-skated through his store and squealed pitches over the radio, died Friday (April 15, 2011) of pneumonia at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield. He was 87 and lived much of his life in south St. Louis County.

Mr. Mizerany's trademark slogan was describing the store, called the New Deal, "at 4719 Gravois, next to the Bevo Mill." He'd vary the line during radio ad libs, often saying "the Bevo Mill is next to us."

His partner was Joe Farhatt, a childhood friend from the Lafayette Park neighborhood south of downtown. Mr. Mizerany graduated from McKinley High School and went to work with his brothers at a family store, Mizerany Brothers Appliance at 3849 South Broadway.

In 1972, he left that store and co-founded the Mizerany-Farhatt New Deal Appliance Co. at the famous Gravois address. He had done television commercials for Mizerany Brothers, once accidentally starting a fire in a local television studio during a stunt.

But it was for the New Deal that he found his voice. He took to TV and radio with enthusiastic slapstick, delivered in his distinctive voice. He'd appear in plaids and stripes that were outlandish even for the 1970s.

His radio ads often consisted of banter with station personalities, including Jack Buck. During one of the last Apollo moon shots, Mr. Mizerany described over the radio how the astronauts were circling the moon. "Well, we're not there," he said, "We're at 4719 Gravois ..."

He, Farhatt and their sales people were "the decent boys." He'd implore his listeners: "Don't be confused!"

On the TV ads, Mr. Mizerany often roller-skated while pitching Hotpoint and Zenith appliances. He'd also wear skates while doing business, rolling up to customers and introducing himself.

Mr. Mizerany left the partnership in 1989. Farhatt operated it a few more years and died in 1997.

Afterward, Mr. Mizerany briefly did radio spots for the Warehouse of Waterbeds, a business run by two nieces. The slogan? "If you ain't sleeping on water, you otter."

Mr. Mizerany lived for the last six years in Bethesda Meadow nursing home in Ellisville. He had been a patient at St. Luke's for about a week before his death.
Mizerany, Steve fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Friday, April 15, 2011. Former husband and best friend of Sue Mizerany (nee Grant); dear father of Steven (Debra) Mizerany, Cathy, Stephanie (Donald) Dorris, Vincent Mizerany and Veronica (Dr. Barry) Miller; dear grandfather of Steven (Sarah) Dorris, Blake (Alena) Mizerany, Sydney and Grant Miller; dear great-grandpa of Alexis; our dear uncle, greatuncle and cousin. Services: Funeral from KUTIS AFFTON Chapel, 10151 Gravois, Mon., April 18, 9:15 a.m. to St. Raymond Maronite Cathedral for 10 a.m. Mass. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Contributions to St. Raymond Church Debt Reduction appreciated. Visitation Sunday, 2-8 p.m.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) - Sunday, April 17, 2011.

Steve Mizerany, the zany appliance dealer who roller-skated through his store and squealed pitches over the radio, died Friday (April 15, 2011) of pneumonia at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield. He was 87 and lived much of his life in south St. Louis County.

Mr. Mizerany's trademark slogan was describing the store, called the New Deal, "at 4719 Gravois, next to the Bevo Mill." He'd vary the line during radio ad libs, often saying "the Bevo Mill is next to us."

His partner was Joe Farhatt, a childhood friend from the Lafayette Park neighborhood south of downtown. Mr. Mizerany graduated from McKinley High School and went to work with his brothers at a family store, Mizerany Brothers Appliance at 3849 South Broadway.

In 1972, he left that store and co-founded the Mizerany-Farhatt New Deal Appliance Co. at the famous Gravois address. He had done television commercials for Mizerany Brothers, once accidentally starting a fire in a local television studio during a stunt.

But it was for the New Deal that he found his voice. He took to TV and radio with enthusiastic slapstick, delivered in his distinctive voice. He'd appear in plaids and stripes that were outlandish even for the 1970s.

His radio ads often consisted of banter with station personalities, including Jack Buck. During one of the last Apollo moon shots, Mr. Mizerany described over the radio how the astronauts were circling the moon. "Well, we're not there," he said, "We're at 4719 Gravois ..."

He, Farhatt and their sales people were "the decent boys." He'd implore his listeners: "Don't be confused!"

On the TV ads, Mr. Mizerany often roller-skated while pitching Hotpoint and Zenith appliances. He'd also wear skates while doing business, rolling up to customers and introducing himself.

Mr. Mizerany left the partnership in 1989. Farhatt operated it a few more years and died in 1997.

Afterward, Mr. Mizerany briefly did radio spots for the Warehouse of Waterbeds, a business run by two nieces. The slogan? "If you ain't sleeping on water, you otter."

Mr. Mizerany lived for the last six years in Bethesda Meadow nursing home in Ellisville. He had been a patient at St. Luke's for about a week before his death.


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  • Created by: Tom Baird
  • Added: Apr 17, 2011
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68502525/steven_p-mizerany: accessed ), memorial page for Steven P. “one of the Decent Boys” Mizerany (17 May 1923–15 Apr 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 68502525, citing Resurrection Cemetery, Affton, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA; Maintained by Tom Baird (contributor 47175493).