OBITUARIES
Scroll down below 2017 Obituaries for a link to previous obituaries or CLICK HERE.
2020
George James Oshkello, 79, died December 29, 2020, in Florida.
Raised in New York City, he worked in sales until retiring from Brighton-Best International in 2005. At BBI he was responsible for building the regional sales team and opening up international markets.
Survivors include spouse Joan; son Craig; and two grandchildren.
The family suggests memorial donations to Living Tree Alliance – a non-profit that George helped build; Hudson Valley Alzheimer’s Association; Community Chavurah of Delaware; or Jewish Community of Greater Stowe; or make an unsolicited act of kindness for someone less fortunate.
Online shiva services were held in early January. Web: bethisraelchapel.com/obituaries/George-Oshkello/#!/Obituary
Winston Leonard “Win” Adams, 78, died December 13, 2020.
He and his spouse Barbara founded Adams Nut & Bolt in 1979 and he was president of the National Fastener Distributors Association for 1986-87. They sold Adams Nut & Bolt to Würth in 1997 and he retired in 2001.
Among his hobbies was golf and he was proud of six hole-in-ones and playing at 79 of the top 100 U.S. golf courses.
Survivors include his wife; daughters: Shawn (Dan) Moloczij and Nicolle (Bill) Woods; and four grandchildren.
Due to Covid restrictions there will be a private family-only service December 16, 2020. There will be a public celebration at Basilica of Minneapolis in the spring: CaringBridge.org/visit/winstonadams.
He was proud of 48 years of sobriety and the family suggests memorial donations for people struggling with addiction to Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation, 800 E. 28th St., MR-16509, Minneapolis, MN 55407. Web: Allinahealth.org
See Fastener History section of GlobalFastenerNews.com: 2001 FIN – Win Adams: Getting the Order
Doug Adams, founder of EFC International, died December 8.
In 1968, he started a manufacturers’ representative agency – D.F. Adams & Associates.
In 1983, he founded EFC, which has grown to be a global supplier of engineered fasteners with locations including North America, Europe and Asia.
Part of his fastener pioneering was establishing EFC as an early fastener distributor focused on highly engineered fasteners and branded product lines, and intentionally building a sales team of engineers capable of design and innovation. His contributions to the industry are widespread, including creating what a “master distributor” can evolve into, customer and supplier partnering, and one of the earliest adopters of visionary technologies.
He was an artist, biker, designer, fisherman, art collector, pet lover, boater, philanthropist, husband, father and grandfather.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o EFC International, 1940 Craigshire, St. Louis, MO 63146-4008.
Fastener specialist Bengt Blendulf died of glioblastoma on April 22, 2020.
He started in the fastener industry in 1966 with Swedish fastener manufacturer Bulten. He moved to the U.S. in 1974 to start a subsidiary for Bulten. In 1988 he joined the faculty of Clemson University’s College of Engineering & Science. Following eight years with Clemson, he founded EduPro US Inc., where he was president and principal lecturer until he retired at over 80 years old at the end of 2018.
He was one of the founders of the Bolting Technology Council – which he chaired from 1996 to 2006. He received ASTM’s Weingruber Award in 1996 and the Industrial Fasteners Institute’s Soaring Eagle award in 2013.
He authored more than 100 journal articles and several books –including Joint Technology for Threaded Fasteners, Mechanical Fastening and Joining and contributing to Handbook of Bolts and Bolted Joints.
John F. Firlik Jr., 61, died unexpectedly September 9. He was the automation specialist for Spirol International and had been with the company for 40 years.
Survivors include spouse Dianna M. Firlik; two sons, John Firlik III and Joseph Firlik; a daughter, Julie Firlik; and one granddaughter.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. September 19, 2020, in Evergreen Cemetery, Central Village. Messages to the family may be sent c/o Spirol International, 30 Rock Ave., Danielson, CT 06239.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Putnam Fish & Game Club. Web: doughertybrosfuneralhome.com
Joe J. “Joe” Pivarnik, 91, died August 23, 2020. He had been president of the part of the North Coast Fastener Association and was inducted into the NCFA Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Baliski Pivarnk.
Survivors include daughters Christine Thompson, Susan Lee Horn and Anette Concannon; three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Misencik Funeral Home, 36363 Detroit Rd., Avon, OH 44011.
Due to COVID-19 services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s School Endowment Fund or Cypress Hospice, 2 Berea Commons, Suite 1, Berea, Ohio, 44017.
Messages to the family may be sent to: Rendace & Associates, P.O. Box 281, Port Washington, NY 11050.
Born in Yugoslavia, as a refugee of World War II at age 13 he and his family immigrated to Los Angeles. He studied drafting in junior college. His first job was as a draftsman and machinist at an aerospace company, Gilfillan.
He and his brother, Peter Thierjung, who was working at fastener manufacturer Dumont Aviation, founded Astro Tool & Die as a machining company for aerospace companies. Astro expanded to produce tooling.
In 1967 the company became Astro Punch Corporation, which subsequently expanded into automotive, high tech and construction fastener industries. Astro Punch was acquired by Precision Cast Parts in 1996.
Survivors include spouse Theresa; four sons; and seven grandchildren.
A native of England, he obtained a degree in mechanical engineering and spent his career in the fastener industry. He owned G.T. Specialty Fasteners Inc. of Michigan.
Watson Woodrow Stanley, 96, died May 18, 2020.
He was the founder of Darling Bolt in 1958 in Warren, MI. Upon selling it to a partner, he started Stanley Industries in 1967. Both businesses still exist today.
In the Army, Stanley was shot in Europe on V-E Day – the last day of World War II. He was awarded a Purple Heart.
He was a Detroit Institute of Technology graduate.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; three children, William (Barb) Stanley, Robert (Lana Kenny) Stanley and Judy (Jim) Cash; 10 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.
A celebration of life is being planned for late summer. The family suggests memorial donations to Shepherd of the Lakes Church, Brighton, MI. Web: sotlchurch.churchcenter.com/giving or WWII Legacy Memorial at Memorial Park, Royal Oak. Web: michiganww2memorial.org/
John Kenneth “Ken” Hinson, 68, died May 5, 2020.
He started with Century Fasteners Corp. in Charlotte in 1978. In 1985 he opened a Century branch in Columbia, SC. He continued as branch manager even after becoming a double amputee. He retired in 2019.
Survivors include his daughter, Kelly Hinson, and his personal friend, Barbara Caraturo. He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Blair Hinson.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Century Fasteners, 2500 Leap Hart Rd. Suite 1, West Columbia, SC 29169. Email: ColumbiaSales@CenturyFasteners.com
Neil Hadfield, 75, died April 28 in San Diego.
He was co-founder of Western Pacific Data Systems in 1979, which became Faspac Fastener Solutions. In 1981 co-founders Margaret Jackson and Hadfield acquired the fastener distribution software developer from co-founders Bill Vollmer and Dennis Marteeny and went on to sell 500 systems in the next 22 years. Faspac was sold to Prophet 21 in 2003.
Survivors include his spouse, Margaret Jackson; three children; and four grandchildren.
Messages may be sent to the family: 6026 Vista De La Mesa, La Jolla, CA 92037-6544.
Tim Graham, 60, managing director of Archerdale Ltd, died from Covid-19 in a UK hospital, Fastener + Fixing Magazine reports.
Archerdale chairman Glyn Brown had worked with Graham for 40 years in several Yorkshire fastener companies. Archerdale was established in 1983, with Brown joining the family business in 1992 to form the fastener segment and Graham joining a year later.
“A recruitment I was never to regret,” Brown said, “which is not to say we didn’t have some moments when the relationship crackled – but that was always a measure of Tim’s personal strength, his commitment to the business, and to getting it right.”
Graham was appointed managing director at the end of 2019 when Brown became chairman, according to Fastener + Fixing.
Archerdale, a manufacturer and distributor of fasteners and associated products, has been operational throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have a significant number of key customers operating in essential industry sectors, who are reliant on Archerdale maintaining a reliable and effective supply chain,” Brown explained. “As a result, and I believe combined with our performance as a supplier and quality of our team, we have not really experienced the top-line impact felt by many other companies in the fastener sector.”
Brown has resumed the managing director role.
Survivors include his spouse Amanda and children Sam and Sara.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Archerdale Ltd, Hirstwood Works, Hirstwood Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 4BU. Email: sales@Archerdale.com
Keith E. Mantis died unexpectedly on April 19. He was the founder and principal owner of Fasteners Inc / Southwestern Supply, internet retailer ToolUp.com and Professional Contractors Supply. He started San Diego Fasteners Inc. in a storage unit in San Diego in 1987 as a construction supply company.
He joined the Evergreen Marketing Group in 1994, served on the board 1997-2000 and as president 1999-2000. He served 25 years on Evergreen’s education committee. Mantis also served on the Specialty Tool & Fasteners Distributor Association board.
Survivors include his son, Michael Mantis (Jennifer) and one grandson. He was preceded in death by a son, Keith E. Mantis Jr.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Fasteners Inc., 4170 W. Harmon Ave. #4, Las Vegas, NV 89103. Web: FastenersLV.com
Brighton-Best Socket Screw Mfg. co-founder Perry Rosenstein, 94, died April 3 from COVID-19, the New Jersey Globe reports.
His company, which he sold in 2008 to a consortium of Taiwanese investors led by Ta Chen International president Robert Shieh, became Brighton-Best International, the largest fastener importer in North America.
“Sad new for us old timers that had the privilege to know Perry,” stated Don Haggerty of Stelfast.
“This is terrible news, especially for those of us at Brighton,” added BBI president Jun Xu. “I can only say that we would not be where we are today without the work Perry put into BBSSMI. It was an incredible platform to build off of. We are humbled and proud to carry on a part of his legacy in the work we do everyday.”
Rosenstein was born in the Bronx to Polish emigrants “who instilled in him a tremendous work ethic and a passion for social justice,” his website biography said. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and and graduated from Indiana University, after which he earned a masters degree from Long Island University.
Rosenstein started his post-college career as a school teacher.
“The experience of learning to be a teacher” was excellent training for his career in fasteners, Rosenstein told GlobalFastenerNews.com in 2007.
His first fastener job was with Globe Bolt & Screw Co. He then joined Stevens Socket Screw Co., which was later bought out by MSL Industries and became a part of Heads & Threads. Rosenstein then became a VP of Heads & Threads.
Stanley Sevell and Rosenstein founded Best Socket Screw Co. in New York City in 1965. Three years later they formed Brighton-Best Socket Screw when they acquired Brighton Screw Co. of Cincinnati and merged the names. Brighton-Best grew to a major supplier of inch and metric hexagon alloy socket screws.
After retiring in 2008, Rosenstein gave even more attention to his foundations. He told GlobalFastenerNews.com he donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to support the arts in New York, New Jersey and Ohio.
“We support the arts – especially those by ‘people with beliefs, color or gender which are out of the mainstream.’”
In 1983, Rosenstein founded the Puffin Foundation, a Teaneck-based progressive non-profit that he self-funded to provide over 400 grants for the arts and culture. He also created the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, which preserved the history of Americans who fought against Franco and fascism, and started an awards program that recognized individuals and groups that impact human rights. The Puffin Gallery for Social Activism is a permanent exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York.
Puffin reportedly provided $100,000 annually to the National Associates for a creative citizenship award. Recipients included Reverend Barber, Ben Jealous, Colin Kaepernick, the Parkland Students, and the Sunrise Movement.
Another Rosenstein favorite foundation, Teaneck Creek Conservancy, turned garbage dumps into parks or wetlands where birds return to nest.
His philanthropy was all a part of “giving back” from his successful career and in fighting global warming and pollution, he told GlobalFastenerNews.com.
Click here to visit the Facebook page created by the Puffin Foundation to celebrate Rosenstein’s life.
2019
James Paul “Jim” Zehnder, 84, died November 25.
His wife of 62 years, Margaret Augusta Louise Zehnder, 84, died 23 days later on December 18, 2019.
He alternated the CEO role at Earnest Machine Products Co. with his brother. The company was founded in 1948 by his father, Paul Zehnder.
He was an ordained Lutheran minister for 20 years before joining the family company.
Survivors include son Dan Zehnder; daughters, Mary and Barbara; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, John.
Messages to the family may be sent ℅ Dan Zehnder, Trinity Logistics, 3216 E. 35th St Ct, Davenport, IA 52807. Email: dzehnder@trinityscs.com
Joe Greenslade died October 23.
He was highly respected in the fastener industry. He began his 45-year fastener career in 1970 working for various fastener manufacturers, including CAMCAR-Textron and Rockford Headed Products, before founding Greenslade and Company, a designer and manufacturer of dimensional measuring devices and a calibration laboratory, in 1978.
He sold the company in 2007 and began working as technical director for the Industrial Fasteners Institute, a position he called his “dream job.” Greenslade retired from IFI in 2015 when Salim Brahimi took over as technical director. He remained a special consultant to IFI, maintaining the upkeep of the IFI Technology Connection software that he had developed.
In 2016, Greenslade, who held a BA in business management from Texas A&M University, was given the IFI Soaring Eagle Service Award for outstanding time and effort in leadership of the IFI and / or contributions to the health and well-being of the fastener industry.
That same year, he received the Fred F. Weingruber Award from ASTM International Committee F16 on Fasteners. An ASTM member since 1994, Greenslade worked on multiple F16 subcommittees, as well as on Committee B08 on Metallic and Inorganic Coatings.
Outside ASTM, Greenslade was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Industrial Fasteners Institute, the International Organization for Standardization, and the Research Council on Structural Connections and SAE International.
Greenslade authored more than 200 trade journal articles and served on ASME B1 and B18, ASTM F16 and SAE fastener committees. He was a member of the Public Law Task Force for the U.S. Fastener Quality Act and the Screw Thread Conformance Task Force for the revision of aerospace thread design and thread gaging practices for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense. He was also an A2LA board member.
Greenslade held 12 U.S. patents on fastener-related products and was a member of the NIFS Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife Lillian; son Joseph Jr.; daughter Heather; step-daughter Jennifer Vance; and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Joe’s project at Paschal High School, www.paschalpantherhero.org.
Gordon Vandermeulen, 76, died October 19.
Vandermeulen and his wife, Elaine, acquired Grand Rapids Bolt & Nut in 1976 and retired at the end of 2016 with nearly 41 years in the business. The company was renamed Great Lakes Fasteners & Supply in 1987. Click here for Vandermeulen’s retirement story.
During 2016, Great Lakes by the New York-based private equity company High Road Capital Partners.
Survivors include his wife Elaine and several children.
A memorial service will be held November 2 at Grace Community Church at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Grace Community Church – Solid Ground Youth Ministry, 3500 New Holland Street, Hudsonville, MI 49426. Web: glfasteners.com
Pleas Ronald “Ron” Manley, 66, of Auburn, AL, died October 10, 2019.
He spent most of his career in sales and upper management positions with several worldwide fastener companies. He had chaired the Industrial Fasteners Institute Aerospace Policy Committee. For the past 12 years he was a part-owner of Opelika Bolt LLC, a fastener distributorship in East Alabama.
On March 2, 1996, he traveled on the inaugural flight of a Boeing 777.
Survivors include his spouse Pennie Manley; sons Davide and John (Lindsay); and six grandchildren.
Messages to the family may be sent to Opelika Bolt, 208 Simmons St., Opelika, AL 36801.
Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Foundation of Alabama, 300 Cahaba Park Circle, Suite 209, Birmingham, AL 35242.
Arnold R. “Arnie” Craven Jr., 65, president of Phillips Fasteners, died October 13, 2019. Most of his career was in manufacturing and selling exterior wood screws. After obtaining three patents for Deck Mate screws he built a factory in Taiwan.
A native of Connecticut, he also lived in Massachusetts and Taiwan.
Survivors include three children: Justine Craven-Goetz; Arnold Craven III; and William Craven; four grandchildren; and lifelong friend, John Gallagher.
The family suggests memorial donations to: Baystate Hospice, 50 Maple St., Springfield, MA 01102.
Edward D. Otto, 93, died September 21, 2019. He started his career with Proctor & Gamble and IBM and in 1956 he entered the fastener industry with Standard Press Steel (SPS) of Philadelphia in the company’s Syracuse, NY, office. In 1965 he joined Fastron Company in Chicago as executive VP and general manager. In 1969, he became president of Fasteners Inc., in Newington, CT. He sold the company in 1997.
He was a founder and president of the New England Fastener Distributors Association and was inducted into the group’s Hall of Fame. He also was a National Fastener Distributor Association board member.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Manning Otto; his daughter, Audrey; and two granddaughters. His first wife, Madeleine Murphy Otto, predeceased him in 1988.
The family suggests memorial donations to St. Peter Claver Church or Services for the Elderly of Farmington, Inc., 321 New Britain Ave., Unionville, CT 06085. Messages to the family may be sent online: MolloyFuneralHome.com.
Robert Lee “Bob” Snodgrass, 69, died April 7, 2019. He started Metroplex Supply Inc., an automotive fastener supply company in Stilwell, KS and operated it for 30 years.
Survivors include his spouse, Connie; son Clayton; daughter Erin Crofford; and five grandchildren.
The family suggest donations to the Missouri Southern Foundation, designated for the Department of Athletics.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Metroplex Supply, 7975 W. 167th St, Stilwell, KS 66085.
Mark Robert Ryan, 61, died June 21, 2019, from cancer. He started in the hardware store at the age of 13. In 1989, he founded Associated Fastening Products Inc. in his garage in Buffalo Grove, IL. He grew the company to 25 employees and a 25,000 sq ft facility in Itasca and expanded the product line to include custom machines parts. In 2001 he added a second business, Integrated Packaging & Fastener, to provide hardware packaging.
Survivors include fiancé Debi Lucchetti and her three children.
Visitation will be 4pm to 8pm June 28th at Davenport Family Funeral Home in Lake Zurich. There will be a mass at Saint Anne Catholic Community at 10am June 29th, followed by a luncheon at Francesca’s in Barrington. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to a local animal shelter.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Associated Fastening Products Inc., 700 Hilltop Dr., Itasca, IL 60143. Email: sales@AssociatedFastening.com
James Thomas “Jim” Pokracki, 78, died April 19, 2019.
In 1988 he started working at Construction Tool &Threading Company of Southern California and five years later he purchased the nuts and bolts manufacturer. He sold the company to Industrial Threaded Products in 2019. He started working in a Chicago steel mill. In the 1960s he moved to Southern California and worked for Ryerson Steel for seven year and then Sullivan Bolt.
Survivors include his wife Rita; son Jerry; daughter Kristina; and one granddaughter.
A celebration of life will be at 11am Saturday, May 11, 2019, 11:00 am at Brown Colonial Mortuary, 204 W. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706, followed by a reception at Embassy Suites Hotel Anaheim-North, 3100 E. Frontera Street, Anaheim CA 92806.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Construction Tool & Threading Company, 8476 S. Garfield Avenue, Bell Gardens, CA 90201.
John T. “Jack” Butcher Jr., 79, founder of Industrial Bolt & Supply Inc. in Auburn, Washington, died March 24.
Butcher and his wife, Linda Butcher, founded the distributorship in 1977 and managed it for 30 years. It grew from two employees to 40 employees with salespeople in seven Western states.
He had been on the Specialty Tools & Fastener Distributors Association board. He retired in 2007 and sold the business to his children: daughter Michelle St. John, is IBS president and was the 2018 STAFDA president; and son, Derek Butcher, is CEO.
As a Rotary Club member and president he participated in polio eradication efforts in Ethiopia, immunizing children with the life saving polio vaccine, a cause that was dear to his heart, as he had polio as a child. The family suggests memorial donations to Global Polio Eradication Initiative http://polioeradication.org/financing/donate/.
Messages to the family may be sent to: IBS, 740 Clay St. NW, Auburn, WA 98001. Email: michelle@IndustrialBolt.com
Cary Weitzman, 71, died March 7, 2019. He was VP and a partner of Jay-Cee Sales & Rivet, where he started working in 1969.
“Cary’s legacy at Jay-Cee Sales will continue through his son’s Allan and Greg Weitzman, brother in law Michael Clinton, and nephews Jason and Bryan Clinton,” stated Jay-Cee manager Allan Weitzman.
Survivors include his wife Rebecca Weitzman; daughter Hayley (Brad) Warren; sons Greg (Lindsey) Weitzman, and Allan (Tracy) Weitzman; and seven grandchildren.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Jay-Cee Sales & Rivet, 32861 Chesley Dr., Farmington, MI 48336. Tel: 248 478-2150 Email: allan@rivetsinstock.com
Gary Kenneth Lilly and Elizabeth “Betty Lou” Lilly, both 70, died in a car wreck on January 9, 2019. He was the owner of Delaware-based Kenneth G. Lilly Fasteners, Inc. – a distributorship founded in 1964 by his father, Kenneth Granville Lilly.
Survivors include a son, Kevin (Gina) Lilly; and nine grandchildren. They were preceded in death by another son, Brian Lilly.
Messages to the family may be sent c/o Kenneth G. Lilly Fasteners, 855 Dawson Dr., Newark, DE 19713. Email: sales@KGLilly.com Web: KGLilly.com
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