Richard “Dick” Wolpert passed away peacefully August 20, 2023 at the age of 97. Dick was one of the last of the “old guard” members of the theatrical lighting industry. He was the heart and soul of Union Connector, growing it from a loft in Hell’s Kitchen to a 20,000 square foot factory on Long Island. His honesty and integrity were well known and acknowledged by customers and competitors, alike. Several became close friends. He could sell snow to Eskimos, but everything was always “above board” as he often said. His word was his bond.
Wolpert was born May 18, 1926 in New York City and grew up in the suburb of Flushing, NY. His father, William “Bill” Wolpert, came from a part of Manhattan called “Hell’s Kitchen” and joined IATSE Local 1 just after World War I. Dick and his brother, Alan, would follow their father’s lead and become Local 1 stagehands after World War II. Bill Wolpert started Union Connector in 1929 while working days at Kliegl making pin connectors and nights in the Plymouth Theatre on West 45th Street. Bill’s union affiliation was the inspiration for the name “Union” Connector. As kids, Dick and his brother worked weekends and summer vacations for Union, learning what it takes to run a small business.
Wolpert graduated from Xavier High School in early 1943, having attended summer school to be able to enlist at the age of 17. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Pharmacist’s Mate and was honorably discharged in 1945. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, he attended Seton Hall University for his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Columbia University for his Master’s in Education. While in college, he worked nights as a Local 1 stagehand at venues around Manhattan such as The Met, Radio City, the NY Coliseum, and various Broadway theatres. Using his new Biology degree, he was able to get a job as a salesman for Massengill Pharmaceuticals, and advanced to the point of being offered the position of regional sales manager. He turned the offer down (union wages exceeded pharma sales in those days) and started a small company. The business failed after a few years, but the seed was planted. Being his own boss and running a small business was foremost in his mind. Still working at night as a stagehand on the Perry Como Show, Wolpert and his brother moved Union Connector from Hell’s Kitchen to a small shop out on Long Island. It was there that he grew the company from a dirt-floored shop to a multi-level factory. The company became the largest manufacturer of Stage Pin connectors . He did this with hard work, innovative thinking, salesmanship, and an ethic of fairness and honesty. There were many new products introduced to the lighting industry by Union Connector. All bore the UL label because only safe products left the factory. He turned away orders for items he deemed not up to those safety standards. One of his classic sayings was “There’s a right way and a wrong way to do things”. The unspoken message was; I only do it the right way. He pioneered several products and was awarded several patents as a result. He was the heart of Union Connector until 1995, when he turned day-to-day running of the business over to his two sons, Rich and Ray.
Dick and his first wife, Clare, spent their retirement traveling the world, and enjoying winters at their condo on the beach in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. He kept his hand on the pulse of the company and was a source of encouragement to his sons, shepherding them along the proper path. Clare, his wife of 48 years, passed away in 1999. He was lucky enough to find love again and married Doris Asaro in 2003. They were together for 17 years until her passing in 2020.
While Dick and Doris lived on Long Island, Union Connector had moved to Jacksonville, FL. With no remaining ties to NY, Dick moved to Florida after Doris’ passing, to be near his younger son, Ray and his family. He enjoyed the weather and the time he had with his son, grandsons, and especially his daughter-in-law. He lived independently until a few weeks before his death. With his passing, the world lost a good man.
Dick is survived by two sons, Rich Wolpert and his wife, Becky, of Columbia, MO, Ray Wolpert and his wife, Lori, of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; four grandchildren, Rachel Proffitt, Rebecca Lorang, Ryan Wolpert, Jacob Wolpert; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin Proffitt, Clare Lorang, Felix Lorang, and Margot Proffitt. He was loved by all, and will be greatly missed.
Dick was laid to rest with full military honors at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, NY on August 26, 2023. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Behind the Scenes.
