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Frank Lazzaro
Frank Lazzaro, 76, a respected purchasing professional in the PVF supply business for more than 50 years, died June 13, 2011. Before retiring in 2008, Lazzaro worked for Robert-James Sales (Buffalo, NY) where he held positions including purchasing manager, head of special projects and Buffalo branch manager. He was known to have an encyclopedic knowledge of both products and the distribution process. Previous employers included Stritt & Priebe, Case Elderfield, Hysen Supply, Grinnell, W.A. Case and Cramer Case.
Spiros Raftis, 86, entrepreneur, founder and chairman of Red Valve Co., died June 1, 2011. He founded the Pittsburgh-based Red Valve Co. in 1953 as a one-plant operation originally built from five sheets of plywood. He held 36 U.S. and international patents, primarily for products in the water and wastewater industry. One of his sons, George Raftis II, heads up Mid-Atlantic Valve and Equipment, where grandson George Raftis III serves as sales manager.