Lutron's Joel Spira - An Industry Giant 1927-2015
Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs and Joel Spira are three giants in industry that took their vision and changed a corner of the world. Each of them were closely associated with their companies and drove and expanded their distinct visions to the benefit of us all. On April 8th Joel Spira passed away. In 2010, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History accepted Spira’s personal papers and other materials linked with the company's history as part of the collection that also includes Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. He is credited with more than 300 design and utility patents in the US and 2,700 patents across the globe.
Mr. Spira, the founder of Lutron, took his the solid-state dimmer switch dimmer invention from a small apartment in NY in 1959 to world prominence. Along the way he added the first dimming ballast, whole house control, security products, home theater, window shading and other widely adopted innovations. But it was his initial simple dimmer invention that was emulated by others across the industry and has changed residential and commercial control forever. Pioneers like him who have the smarts, grit and follow-through to make such a difference are owed a debt of gratitude and admiration by the rest of us. They teach us possibility and what determination can do. In times when the American dream can look shaky, these are folks whose stories rekindle that flame and give would-be entrepreneurs hope.
From Yahoo Finance - Susan Hakkarainen, Joel's daughter and Senior Vice President at Lutron said, "My father always felt that we should design from a customer perspective rather than just focusing on the technology. His objective is to always make products that are technically excellent but also beautiful so that people will enjoy them in their homes, offices, restaurants, hotels, museums, schools, healthcare facilities and everywhere they work, live, and play." Lutron was built on and still follows five company principles, by which Joel himself lived:
Mr. Spira, the founder of Lutron, took his the solid-state dimmer switch dimmer invention from a small apartment in NY in 1959 to world prominence. Along the way he added the first dimming ballast, whole house control, security products, home theater, window shading and other widely adopted innovations. But it was his initial simple dimmer invention that was emulated by others across the industry and has changed residential and commercial control forever. Pioneers like him who have the smarts, grit and follow-through to make such a difference are owed a debt of gratitude and admiration by the rest of us. They teach us possibility and what determination can do. In times when the American dream can look shaky, these are folks whose stories rekindle that flame and give would-be entrepreneurs hope.
From Yahoo Finance - Susan Hakkarainen, Joel's daughter and Senior Vice President at Lutron said, "My father always felt that we should design from a customer perspective rather than just focusing on the technology. His objective is to always make products that are technically excellent but also beautiful so that people will enjoy them in their homes, offices, restaurants, hotels, museums, schools, healthcare facilities and everywhere they work, live, and play." Lutron was built on and still follows five company principles, by which Joel himself lived:
- Take care of the customer with superior goods and services.
- Take care of the company.
- Take care of the people.
- Innovate with high-quality products.
- Deliver value to the customer. Quotes from those who knew him suggest that Mr. Spira was far more than a brilliant inventor, that he was a warm caring husband, father and friend as well.
- The Joel S. Spira Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Education Fund
- The Joel S. Spira International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) Education Trust Fund, PO Box 850, Coopersburg, PA 18036.
