FinishMaster announced that its founder Jim F. White passed away August 26 at the age of 101 after an extended battle with Parkinson’s disease and dementia. In a blog post announcing his passing, FinishMaster stated, “Today, with heartfelt sadness, we announce the loss of Jim White, beloved founder of FinishMaster.” FinishMaster began on April 25, […]
Dick Schoonover, Longtime Minnesota Shop Owner and ASA Board Member Passes Away
Dick Schoonover, of Woodbury, Minn. passed away on July 9, at age 84. Schoonover, who was active in the collision repair industry since the 1950s. After high school, Dick went to work for his Dad, Chuck, at the family business-Schoonover Auto Rebuild, taking it over in the mid 1960’s after Chuck’s early passing. He was […]
Longtime ASA Washington Representative Don Randall Passes Away
Don Randall, the former Automotive Service Association (ASA) Washington D.C. Attorney passed away June 22. Randall represented the association on important legislative matters for two decades until the 1990s. Born in Lyons, Ga., the son of Foy Clifford and Annie Mae Autrey Randall, Randall graduated from the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University […]
Longtime Automotive Lift Institute Leader E.K. “Chic” Fox Passes Away
Longtime Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) leader E.K. “Chic” Fox died at home in Indiatlantic, Fla., on June 6 after a long illness. Fox dedicated 43 years of his life to ALI and improving automotive lift safety. Fox was named the first president of ALI in 1974 after working 12 years in support of the organization. […]
ASE Mourns the Loss of Founder Jack Pohanka
Jack Pohanka, one of the founders and former chairman of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), passed away on May 17 at the age of 92. “Jack Pohanka was a visionary who made an incredible impact on the entire automotive industry,” said Tim Zilke, ASE president and CEO. “ASE would not be the […]
Doug Middleton, Longtime I-CAR Staff Member and Volunteer, Passes Away Aged 97
World War II Navy vet, who had long career in the auto insurance industry, supported industry training activities into his 90s. Lemuel Douglas “Doug” Middleton, a long-time staff member and volunteer at the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR), passed away May 19 at the age of 97. Middleton was born January 27, 1923 […]
Al Porcelli, Long Time New York Collision Repair Shop Owner and Association Exec, Passes Away at 95
Al Porcelli, former owner of Central Avenue Collision Works in Glendale, Queens, N.Y. and a co-founder of the Auto Body Craftsman’s Guild of New York City, passed away April 7 from conditions associated with a long-life at the age of 95. Porcelli was the longest serving active trade association member in the U.S., continuing to […]
Memorial Fund Announced for Former Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Ron Ray
A memorial fund has been established by the Collision Repair Education Foundation in honor of their former Executive Director, Ron Ray, who passed away March 28. Ray was the Education Foundation’s Executive Director from 1997-2007. The fund will support the collision students and schools that Ron supported throughout his career. Industry members interested in making […]
NJ Collision Repair Shop Owner Ed Lubrano Passes Away
Edward Lubrano, Jr., 75, co-owner with his brother Joe Lubrano of J&E Auto Body located in Clark, N.J. for the past 45 years, passed away on Sunday, August 18. The Lubranos have been long-time members of collision repair associations in the state. Ed was born in Elizabeth, N.J. and has been a resident of Clark […]
Son and Daughter-in-Law of Collision Repair Shop Owner Among Those Killed in El Paso
Gilbert Anchondo, owner of Colormaster Auto Body Shop in El Paso, Texas lost his son Andre, 23, and Andre’s wife Jordan, 24, during the shooting last weekend at a Walmart in El Paso. According to press reports, Andre and his wife were killed protecting their two-month-old son, Paul, who survived the attack. Gilbert Anchondo was […]