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 […]
Services Announced for John Norris
Services have been announced for John Norris, the longtime Canadian collision repair association executive who passed away May 28 at the age of 66. The family will receive friends on Thursday June 6, 2019 at Cresmount Funeral Home, 322 Fennell Avenue East, Hamilton, ON from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. A private family funeral and […]
John Norris, Long Time Collision Repair Industry Association Executive in Canada, Passes Away
John Norris, chairman of the Canadian Automotive Service Information Standard (CASIS), board member of the National Automotive Trade Association (NATA), and executive director of the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association (HARA) and Collision Industry Information Assistance since 1988 passed away suddenly yesterday. Norris had been attending the Automotive Technology Summit at the Skills Canada competition […]
Diamond Standard Test Expert George Neat Passes Away
Diamond Standard Parts, LLC announced that George W. Neat, its longtime crashworthiness testing expert, passed away February 26 in Hingham, Mass at the age of 82. “George, a U.S. DOT Volpe Center Executive, was an integral part of the development our exemplary component test protocols and together with the late James Hackney, Director of Crashworthiness […]
Jack Caldwell Passes Away
California shop owner served in leadership positions on numerous state and national collision repair organizations. On Saturday February 2, John “Jack” Caldwell passed away at the age of 85 years old. Caldwell is survived by three children, Kevin. Kerry, Kelly, six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Caldwell was the founder of Autobody by Caldwell in […]
Peter Shaw, Former Thatcham Research Chief Executive Who Stepped Down Last Year, Passes Away
Thatcham Research, the UK-based motor insurers’ automotive research cetner, announced that Peter Shaw, it’s Chief Executive from 2011 until June 2018, passed away on January 24. In a statement, Thatcham Research said, “It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Peter Shaw, Chief Executive of Thatcham Research (2011 – 2018) passed away […]
Lee Vetland, NJ Shop Owner and Former Association President, Passes Away
Lee Vetland, owner of Lee’s Auto Body and a past president of the Garden State Automotive Federation, one of the groups that merged to form the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey, passed away on Tuesday, January 1. He was 71 years old. Vetland owned and operated Lee’s Auto Body and Pine Top […]