Your humble editor had the pleasure of attending the IES Detroit Section’s 100th Anniversary celebration on Thursday, 11 MAY, held at the esteemed Birmingham, MI Country Club. The event was dedicated to honoring the illustrious career of Stephen Squillace and served as a memorable tribute to his remarkable legacy. Shelley Prew of Cooper Lighting Solutions and Section President, Elizabeth Williams, of Illuminart, hosted the event.
The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the heartfelt recognition of Stephen Squillace and his outstanding contributions to the lighting community. But another notable moment of the evening was the induction of Mark Lien into the esteemed 2022-2023 Michigan Lighting Hall of Fame.
The event also provided a platform to honor deserving recipients of the IES Detroit Section Service Awards, recognizing their outstanding commitment and service to the organization.
At the end of the evening, attendees had the privilege of receiving updates from Frank Agraz, the President of IES.
In a captivating speech, Keynote Speaker Janet Lennox Moyer took her place at the podium, but instead of delivering her anticipated speech, an unexpected silence filled the room. Only a select few were privy to the unfolding situation. Suddenly, the air resonated with a soulful recording of Stephen Squillace’s melodious singing, so lifelike that it seemed as if he were present in the very room. Emotions welled up, causing Stephen’s daughter to shed tears, and even Janet found herself choked up by the poignant moment. Through tearful words, she expressed, “He had an unwavering belief in lighting, and everyone who knew him is aware of his love for singing, which he shared with us.”
Janet proceeded to read a heartfelt letter penned by Naomi Miller, who had been hired by Steve in 1978. Within the letter, Naomi reminisced about their time together and highlighted Steve’s pioneering work in developing the first-ever software, Lumen 1, alongside David DiLaura, employing IBM punch cards. In a tender gesture, when Naomi got married, Steve gifted her a cassette tape featuring three songs he had written and sung for her.
Sharing her own personal connection, Janet revealed that during her tenure as a Teaching Assistant at Nela Park, she had crossed paths with Jim Benya, who had brought a group of students to GE for training. Encouraged by Benya, Janet reached out to Steve, and was hired on the spot.
Further testament to Steve’s impact, David DiLaura also contributed a heartfelt letter to the tribute. He credited serendipity as the catalyst for his career, which flourished under Steve’s guidance and mentorship. David emphasized the enduring influence of Steve’s mentoring approach, which he, in turn, carried forward by supporting and guiding others. “The power of Steve’s mentoring,” David wrote, “emanated from his discipline, unwavering dedication, and active involvement in the industry.”
Janet reminisced about her last encounter with Steve in 2017, following her induction into the Michigan Lighting Hall of Fame. At that time, Steve was residing in an assisted living facility, having lost his sight. Janet recalled the request he made, asking her to read aloud his Hall of Fame induction plaque, proudly displayed on the wall of his new home.
The next speaker to grace the stage was Leslie North, who worked at Steve’s firm, The Smith Group, after his departure. Despite not being colleagues, Steve began to mentor Leslie. Through his influential connections, he managed to persuade his former firm to send Leslie to the IES Annual Conference in Minneapolis in 2012, where she had the opportunity to attend a pivotal meeting of the Recommended Quality and Quantity of Illumination (RQQ) committee. The meeting itself was marked by a passionate debate (argument) involving luminaries such as David DiLaura, Peter Ngai, and Mark Rea.
In a heartwarming video message, Jim Benya addressed the audience, remarking on the irony of being asked to speak about Steve during the Detroit Section’s 100th anniversary. He humorously highlighted that it had been exactly 50 years since he began working with Steve.
Taking the stage, Steve’s son, Tom Squillace, shared an interesting story that stirred memories among the audience. He questioned who among them was old enough to remember when tennis balls were white. Tom recounted how, after the construction of the Houston Astrodome in the 1960s, professional players complained about the difficulty of tracking the white ball under the stadium lights. The United States Tennis Association contacted Steve to fix the problem. Steve seized the opportunity and his recommendation was simple yet innovative: change the color of the tennis ball to the vibrant, day-glow green we see today, preserving the lighting setup while enhancing visibility for players.
Tom further fondly recollected how Steve fearlessly advocated for lighting education by leveraging his influence with GE and Sylvania and convincing them to fund education.
Tom and his sister both thanked the Detroit section for the tribute and ended by saying how proud their father would be to see so many young people in attendance.
The event was sponsored by Gasser Bush (Platinum), Clarus Lighting (Gold), and Pro-Tech Lighting and MLS-East (Silver).
Later this week, we’ll look at the rest of the Detroit section’s event including the induction of Mark Lien into the Michigan Lighting Hall of Fame.