Good & Welfare

We regret having to inform our membership of the passing of Brother Steve Blaich on April 12, 2025, at the age of 80.

We regret having to inform our membership of the passing of Brother Paul Stockwell on May 1st, 2025, at the age of 58.

Brother Stockwell was initiated into Local 728 on May 24th, 1997 and was a member of Local 728 for 27 years. He retired in 2023 and moved to Tennessee. Paul worked as a rigger, lamp operator and ACLT on commercials, television and film productions. He worked on shows such as Room 104, Celebrity Big Brother, The Goldbergs, Grown-ish, Lethal Weapon, Westworld and many more.

We regret having to report on the passing of Brother Steven Pellant on March 30th, 2025, age 82. 

Brother Pellant was a 59-year member of Local 728 having been obligated in March 1966. Steven retired in 2000 after a 34-year career working on movies and television shows. Some of the movies Steven worked on were, End of Days, Halloween, American Gigolo, Smile, The Godfather Part II, The Iceman Cometh and the Last American Hero.

He relocated to Chandler, Arizona where he enjoyed over 24 years of retirement.

We regret having to report on the passing of Brother Ralph Stiers on March 27th, 2025, age 83. Brother Stiers was a 46-year member of Local 728 having been obligated in May 1978. 

Prior to his retiring in 2003, Ralph worked on Rush Hour, JAG, NYPD Blue, Dracula, Star Trek TNG, the movies Colors, St. Elmo's Fire Slackers and Jumpin' Jack Flash.

In May of 2024, Ralph was awarded a permanent IATSE Gold Card membership.

We deeply regret having to report th

We regret having to inform our membership of the passing of Brother James Haws on March 15th, 2025 at the age of 66. 

Brother Haws was initiated into Local 728 on September 19^th, 1998 and was a member of Local 728 for 26 years. James retired in 2007.

We regret having to inform our membership of the passing of Brother Shane Crowl on March 4th, 2025 at the age of 49. Brother Crowl was initiated into Local 728 on March 9th, 2013 and was a member of Local 728 for 12 years. Shane worked as a rigger and lamp operator on television and film productions. He worked on shows such as Masked Singer, Dancing with The Stars, American Idol, The Talk and many more. Shane also worked on tour with musical performance artists.

We regret having to inform our membership of the passing of Brother Jeff Butters on March 4^th, 2025 at the age of 76. Brother Butters was initiated into Local 728 on December 11^th1976 and was a member of Local 728 for 48 years. He retired in May of 2013. Jeff worked his way up from rigging and lamp operating to gaffing on television and film productions.

We regret having to inform the membership of the passing of Brother Robert Horton on March 1st, 2025 at the age of 87. Bob Horton was initiated into Local 728 on March 14th, 1960 and was a member of Local 728 for 65 years. Brother Horton worked his way up the studio system from rigger to lamp operator on television and film productions. Eventually his expertise and management skills lead him to working in the Warner Brothers (then called The Burbank Studios) set lighting department, first as assistant set lighting department head and then as the department head.

A Celebration of Life for William Russell will be held on Saturday March 15th at 1PM.

Location: Founder's Hall at Shepherd of the Valley Church, 23838 Kittridge St., West Hills, CA 91307

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