In Memoriam: Horst EmmertHorst Emmert, a longtime employee at the pioneering lighting firm Kliegl Bros., died on May 1 at his home in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. He was 89. Born in Garitz, Bad Kissingen, Germany, in 1936, Emmert moved to the US in September 1956 as an apprentice for Kliegl Bros. Universal Electric Stage Lighting Company. He became a well-known authority on theatrical lighting systems, working for Kliegl Lighting, overseeing all Kliegl lighting systems in major theatres, universities, convention centers, ballrooms, and hotels. In the mid '80s, he opened his own service company (Dimmer Performance Electronics Services), and as president, he continued to service existing Kliegl systems across the country and Canada. Emmert met his future wife, Francoise, in an English class. They married in 1958 and raised their family in Paramus, New Jersey, before retiring to Cossayuna Lake, New York, and Savanna Club, Port Saint Lucie, Florida. He proudly served active duty in the US Army for two years and then the reserve, and was a lifelong supporter of many veterans' organizations. At Savanna Club, he was proud to oversee the theatre lights for the seasonal performances. He is survived by his wife, his daughter Aline Frasca (Bill), and son Gerald Emmert (Theresa). He was a beloved grandfather of five, Kyle (Lauren Watson), Kara (John Moody), Erik (Samantha Saperstein), Annemarie (Nate Lambert), and Sean, and great-grandfather of eight (Brooke, Corbin, Derek, Theo, Hazel, Samuel, Juliette, and Nicolas). A celebration of Horst's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in his memory be made to www.hfotusa.org. 
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