In Remembrance: Kenneth E. Vannice

	Ken Vannice

Kenneth E. Vannice, 74, passed away on January 15, 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 stage and studio lighting company, Kliegl West. In 1996 he followed his profession to Portland, Oregon, for Colortran as a product and test engineering manager. In 1979 Vannice earned his professional engineers license, soon to be followed by one of his most visible contributions to the industry -- work on the National Electrical Code. In 1988, he was appointed to NEC Code Making Panel 15 representing United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT), where he was the longest serving member.

Vannice was involved in ESTA's Technical Standards Program since the first years of the program as the co-chair of the Electrical Power Working Group and a member of the Technical Standards Council. He was also a member of the Control Protocols Working Group and the Photometric Working Group.

Vannice was deeply involved in the creation of the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) and the Entertainment Electrician certification from the very beginning. As the chair of both the early Electrical Skills Working Group and the subsequent Entertainment Electrician Subject Matter Expert group, he was instrumental in creating the body of knowledge that formed the basis for the ETCP Entertainment Electrician certification exam.

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 both ESTA and the USITT, of which he was made a Fellow in 2004. Vannice was awarded ESTA's highest honor, the Eva Swan Award in 2017.

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 Vannice'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.