PORTLAND, OR – Ken Vannice, a theatrical engineer at Leviton – NSI/Colortran who made significant contributions over the course of his career to the development of standards and training programs at ESTA and USITT, died on Jan. 15, 2018 in Portland, OR of cancer complications. He was 74.
Before his death, Vannice penned his own obituary, which was forwarded to PLSN via ESTA. The text follows:
Kenneth E. Vannice, 74, died on January 15th, 2018 in Portland, Oregon of cancer complications.
He was born on January 2, 1944 in Bozeman, Montana to Daniel Bratschi Vannice and Catherine Asimos Vannice where he grew up. After graduation from Bozeman schools and Montana State University he moved to Los Angeles, California to work as an Electrical Engineer for a stage and studio lighting company. In 1996 he followed his profession to Portland, Oregon.
Vannice was a member of Gallatin Lodge No. 6 AF&AM of Bozeman, Montana, the Pacific NW Railway Historical Society of Portland, Oregon and both the Rosetown Ramblers and Heads to the Center square dance clubs of Portland. He was active in codes and standards work through the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), of which he was a Fellow. Vannice was also active in establishing a certification program for entertainment electricians through the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP).
He is preceded in death by his parents, step brothers, step sister, aunts, and uncles. He is survived by many cousins including H. Lee Vannice of Corvallis, Oregon. He is also survived by his friend and adopted family, Lila Stephens and her husband Bryan Ackler.
Services will be held in Bozeman, Montana and a Celebration of Ken’s life will be held in Portland in February. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Behind the Scenes charity or the charity of your choice.
(http://www.behindthescenescharity.org/donate)
More details on Ken Vannice’s career achievements follow –ed.
Vannice’s career in technical theater began at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. While there, he helped found the Loft Theatre and served as its technical director. After graduating with degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Theatre Arts, he joined Kliegl Bros. Lighting in Los Angeles. He then moved on to Colortran and eventually served as Engineering Project Manager for Dimming and also Compliance Manager for Portland, OR-based Leviton – NSI/Colortran.
Vannice, an active member of USITT since 1965, was inducted as a USITT fellow in 2004. He served as USITT Engineering Vice-Commissioner for NEC Affairs, represented the USITT on National Electrical Code Panel 15, and is credited with helping to revise the National Electrical Code (NEC), adding requirements for single-conductor feeder systems.
“We are saddened to share that longtime USITT member and Fellow Ken Vannice died this morning in Portland, OR,” USITT noted, in a statement. “Ken had been a member since the early days of USITT and was a strong advocate of our best practices committee, electrics education, and all that the Institute did.”
Vannice’s contributions to industry standards and education initiatives also included ESTA’s ANSI-accredited Technical Standards Committee, where he chaired the TSP Electrical Power working group and the Certification Program Electrical Skills working group.
Vannice also served on safety advisory groups for Underwriters Laboratories. He was a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and International Association of Electrical Inspectors, and was a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer.
