Powers Fasteners has announced that Stephen B. Powers, of Greenwich, Conn., died October 5, at age 45. He is survived by his wife Christina; two daughters, Alexis and Sydney; mother Virginia and brothers Jeffrey, Christopher and Frederic III. Stephen graduated with honors from Iona College, New Rochelle in 1986 with a BS in Computer Science. He was Executive Vice President of Powers Fasteners, which he ran with his three brothers in Brewster, N.Y.  Stephen managed the Information Technology sector for the company and was the Business Manager for Powers Global overseas companies in eight countries. He was an avid skier and golfer, and a member of Winged Foot Golf Club.

Dominick Auletto, vice president of Topcon Positioning Systems and a survey industry leader for almost three decades, has announced his retirement. Auletto held many positions with TPS in more than 28 years with the company. He was one of the first employees when Topcon Corporation established its U.S. office in New Jersey.  He will continue to work part-time for Topcon until the end of the year to assist the company during the transition stage.

Respected industry leader and W&C friend Walt Pruter, of Palm Springs, Calif., died this November. He was Past President of the International Institute for Lath and Plaster, as well as senior consultant for the Technical Services and Information Bureau. Before his death, he was currently helping W&C Editorial Director Mark Fowler on an updated version of “The Plaster and Drywall Systems” manual, which Pruter co-wrote with colleague Dick Gorman on several editions. Pruter had been instrumental in the development of codes that related to lath, plaster, drywall and steel framing. Before concentrating on his main interest of plastering and stucco, he worked with companies such as USG and Kaiser Gypsum. “Walt was a Renaissance Man and really dedicated to the people around him. For me, he was a true friend and I will really miss him,” said Ron Wollard, who worked with Pruter in the ‘90s, now with CK Supply in Knoxville, Tenn.  Trowel Talk columnist Bill Rogers met Pruter in California, when Rogers was in his ‘20s. “Walt was the dean of the technical guys in the lath and plastering industry. The depth of his knowledge and experience was matched only by the generous way that he shared his insight.”