In Memoriam: Lutron's Paul Trively

Paul H. Trively passed away April 9, 2009, in Salisbury Township, Lehigh Valley, PA.

Paul is survived by Linda Trively, his wife of 41 years. Other survivors include daughter Jacqueline, wife of Terence Ruszin; son Paul Trively III; brother George Trively Jr. and his wife Elaine; and grandchildren William Trively and Victoria Ruszin. Paul’s family came before all else; he was the consummate family man, and his commitment to them was paramount.

Paul, 62, was vice president of Specification Sales at Lutron Electronics in Coopersburg, PA. He had been with the company for 41 years. He was also a board member of the International Architectural Lighting Designers, and a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society and the Lighting Industry Resource Council. He held a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Penn State.

“Paul was an excellent salesman and an excellent contributor to the lighting control industry,” said Joel Spira, Lutron’s founder, chairman and director of research. “But above all, he was a man of sterling character.”

A Lifetime in Lighting Controls

Paul joined Lutron in 1968, just seven years after Lutron commercialized the first solid-state dimmer. Over the course of his 41-year career, Paul helped design many groundbreaking lighting control products including fluorescent dimmers, modular high power dimming systems, and architectural lighting control systems. Among friends, he was known as “Mr. Hi-Lume” for his role in the development and commercialization of one of Lutron’s most popular fluorescent ballast lines.

Paul was also one of Lutron’s most familiar faces, having served as the company’s first technical support engineer, first field service engineer, and one of the first outside sales people. His sales and marketing accomplishments include major contributions to the creation of the market for architectural lighting controls, and the expansion of that market to Latin America, Middle East and Far East.

“I was happy when Paul came to my office and said he wanted to come into Sales, because I knew he would make a huge impact,” said John F. McKiernan, Lutron’s vice chairman and chief sales officer. “His passion for lighting controls, his integrity and personal warmth helped him to forge exceptional relationships in the design community.”

Paul’s most recent focus was on understanding the impact of business issues faced by Lutron’s commercial customers and then fashioning solutions to those issues based on Lutron’s core competencies in controlling the visual environment of any space.

There are hundreds of stories about Paul in the industry lore. Some focus on his travelling adventures, but mostly, they’re about customers who were delighted with the knowledge, service and support Paul gave them – and the goodwill and respect they gave Paul in return. Paul was an outstanding sales champion… and an outstanding human being.

The entire Lutron family mourns his loss, and our hearts go out to Linda and the entire Trively family.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Make-a-Wish Foundation c/o the Robert A. Hauke Funeral Home, 327 Chestnut St., Coplay, PA 18037.

For more information, or to create an online remembrance of Paul Trively, please click here.

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., headquartered in Coopersburg, PA, designs and manufactures lighting controls and automated window treatments for residential and commercial applications. Lutron products save energy and extend the life of light bulbs, making them an eco-friendly addition to the home and office.

#     #     #

RETURN TO NEW PRODUCTS