Lighting control and home automation pioneer, Lutron Electronics founder Joel Spira, died Wednesday 8 April of natural causes at his home in Springfield Township, Pa., aged 88.

Spira created the first solid-state dimmer in 1959, which he launched through Lutron following his founding of the company in 1961 together with his wife Ruth. Their work in lighting control was honoured by the Smithsonian Institute in 2010, where the solid state dimmer is found next to artifacts from Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.

He was honored with a CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

Lutron is arguably the first company to integrate dimmers and motorised shades to control both electric and natural lightings for energy savings and comfort. The company holds over 2700 lighting-related patents, and sells around 16000 products in over 100 countries.

Spira stepped down as CEO of the company he founded in 2003 before appointing himself chairman. He is survived by his wife Ruth, who is current Lutron VP, as well as many children and grandchildren.

Go Lutron