Julius William “Billy” Daves, Jr., 56, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Daves was a 37-year member of IATSE Local 574. He has worked on live music productions, movies, plays, and musicals. His passion was in rigging, and he traveled the world over for the last 20 years, touring as Head Rigger on many productions.
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John “Two Dogs” Saner has finally gone to that big, long rigging call in the sky after a long battle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (a severe form of arthritis in the spine and joints) followed by a stroke suffered in 2014 plus complications from pneumonia, and numerous other health issues including a recent broken leg. He died on January 19, 2025.
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To say Kent Shafferman was Bandit Lites is an understatement. Sadly, Kent passed away early in the morning January 22nd, 2025. Here’s a remembrance of Kent’s life and career from Bandit Lites’ Michael T. Strickland.
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It is with much sadness that PLSN learned of the recent passing of John Fahnestock, who was most recently a Sales Manager with PSAV. He had taken a fall a few months ago and died in his sleep the week of Oct. 21, 2024.
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Richard C. Huggins, Founder of Theatre Magic and SFX Design, Inc. has sadly passed away. He was 78 years old. Jason Reberski, a mentee of Huggins wrote this In Memoriam for Huggins, who designed and created hundreds of custom effects on movies like ‘Gettysburg’, Broadway shows including ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Phantom of the Opera’, and ‘Brigadoon’, as well as live spectaculars such as ‘Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage’.
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With great sadness we announce the passing of concert industry pioneer Brian Croft. He died peacefully on October 16 in a West London hospital. Brian’s influence shaped the careers of an entire generation of touring professionals. He was the first of the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Honorees in January 2002.
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PLSN was saddened to learn of the death of Richard Bleasdale in late September. Bleasdale was introduced to Peter Wynne Willson and Tony Gottelier and… Read More »In Memoriam: Richard Bleasdale, Video Pioneer, 59
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MA Lighting announced the passing of Director of Business Development Riku Mikael Kauppinen, who died peacefully on Friday, August 16, 2024, at the age of 52, after a courageous battle with cancer. Riku was surrounded by his family & friends at the time of his passing.
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PLSN was saddened to hear of the passing on Aug. 2, 2024, of Lighting Designer / Lighting Director Christopher Richard Stuba at age 63 from Stage 4 Small Cell Lung Cancer. Debi Moen who knew and had interviewed Stuba several times, remembers this beloved friend in our lighting community’s life and career through friends of his as well as quotes from Stuba himself from past interviews.
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Longtime Business Manager for Moo TV, Moo Creative and The Steel Mill, Alice Faye Kelly, 73, of Nashville, TN crossed over to her next journey on the Summer Solstice, June 20, 2024, after a short, but fierce battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer. She was a loving mother, grandmother, best friend, and much-loved business manager.
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Television Lighting Designer Bill Klages died on Sunday, July 7, 2024. He was 97 years old. He was a pioneer in television lighting working from the late 1940s through the 2000s. Winning 7 Emmy Awards, his credits included the 1984 Atlanta Olympic Games, The Grammy Awards, The Tony Awards, The Republican National Conventions, The Los Angeles Olympics Closing Ceremonies, The Statue of Liberty Celebration, The Country Music Awards, The Emmy Awards, The Kennedy Center Honors, the inaugural galas for Presidents John F. Kennedy and George H.W. Bush, as well as numerous entertainment TV specials.
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A Remembrance written by Robe Lighting with special thanks to Debi Moen for additional research: Craig Burross – legend of the professional entertainment lighting industry… Read More »Robe Offers a Celebration of Craig Burross Life & Legacy
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