Joel Spira | Dimmer switch inventor
Joel Spira, 88, who brought the light dimmer switch to households across the nation and transformed his Lutron Electronics Co. into a leading manufacturer of lighting controls, died Wednesday of natural causes.
Joel Spira, 88, who brought the light dimmer switch to households across the nation and transformed his Lutron Electronics Co. into a leading manufacturer of lighting controls, died Wednesday of natural causes.
The company, based in Coopersburg, Pa., confirmed the death and said he had been working with company engineers on a new product the night before he died.
Mr. Spira, who patented an electronic light-dimming device, developed the company into a worldwide distributor of motorized shades and lighting and temperature controls. He led the company for 54 years and most recently was chairman and director of research.
The privately held company said Mr. Spira is credited with more than 300 design and utility patents in the United States. The company now holds 2,700 patents across the globe.
- AP