Former Long-Time Smith & Loveless President And Water Industry Leader Robert L. Rebori Passes Away At 91

Smith & Loveless Inc. is saddened to announce the passing of Robert L. Rebori,  who led the international manufacturer of engineered water infrastructure systems and equipment as  Chairman and President for more than 30 years. Mr. Rebori died Wednesday, Oct. 7, at home in  Shawnee, Kansas, at the age of 91.

Mr. Rebori took reigns as Smith & Loveless Division president in 1978, coming from a sister-company within the Ecodyne Corporation, Graver Water, Warren, New Jersey, where he had served as vice  president since 1971. Within two years, Rebori engineered a management buyout of Smith & Loveless,  returning the company to private ownership for the first time since 1959.

He is one of only six chief executives to preside over the company in its storied 80-year history, serving  in that capacity longer than any other.

In 2009, he retired and transitioned the leadership and ownership of Smith & Loveless to his son and  current president Frank J. Rebori. Between them both, the Rebori family has owned, led and expanded  Smith & Loveless for more than half of its existence, nearly 50 years.

“Bob was a student of history and enjoyed reflecting on past domestic and international events.  However, he also advised to always look to the future,” said Frank Rebori “It is with this perspective  that we have advanced the growth of Smith & Loveless and will do so for generations to come.”

In the three decades of Mr. Rebori’s leadership, Smith & Loveless expanded heavily into various  municipal, industrial, federal, and international markets through product development, company  acquisitions, and office expansion. Smith & Loveless continued its original thrust of manufacturing  superior packaged pump stations, expanding the market for above-ground pump stations. The company  gained status as the market leader in grit removal systems and developed one of the earliest packaged  membrane bioreactor treatment systems. He established Smith & Loveless affiliate companies in the  United Kingdom and New Zealand; company divisional operations in suburban Los Angeles, Atlanta  and St. Louis, as well as Bio-Microbics, Inc., which is headed by his son Robert J. Rebori. Further  Smith & Loveless expansions led to the company gaining significant positions in new markets like  copper mining, marine shipping vessels, and food processing. His dedication to bettering Smith &  Loveless allowed the company to thrive in a variety of markets on virtually every continent.

“Bob was a great inspiration to many people. His critical thinking and sharp wit made him a great  leader and mentor.” said Lanette Wickham, Smith & Loveless General Counsel and daughter-in-law of  Robert Rebori. “Until the day of his passing at the age of 91, Bob kept up with business trends and  current events.”

Mr. Rebori was a great advocate for the larger water infrastructure industry, serving as Chairman  and board member of the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association  (WWEMA), inspiring several subsequent Smith & Loveless executives who also served as Chairman of WWEMA. He also served on the boards of several other water equipment  manufacturers in his career.

Mr. Rebori graduated from Seton Hall University with bachelor’s degrees in business and history  where he was a member of the Army ROTC. He then received a master’s degree in economics from  NYU while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Mr. Rebori is preceded in death by his wife Isabel to whom he was married for 64 years. Services  are being handled by Porter’s Funeral Home in Lenexa, Kansas.

About Smith & Loveless Inc.

Founded in 1946, Smith & Loveless Inc. is a global leader in water and wastewater treatment technology. Headquartered in  Lenexa, Kansas, with offices and affiliates in six states and five continents, the company designs, manufactures, and services  custom-engineered wastewater treatment systems, proprietary pumps and packaged pump stations, and headworks and  separation technologies for municipal, industrial, and commercial applications. Known for pioneering innovations in factory built above-grade pump stations, advanced grit removal systems, specialized particle filtration systems for mining processes,  and pre-engineered treatment systems, Smith & Loveless delivers energy-efficient, reliable water infrastructure solutions to  communities and industries worldwide. Tens of thousands of Smith & Loveless equipment installations currently operate on  all seven continents, protecting the water and fluid resources people need and use every day. For more information on Smith  & Loveless Inc. and its products, visit www.SmithAndLoveless.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn and X.