The IBEW regrets to announce that retired International Representative Joseph A. Maziasz died March 14 at the age of 89.

Brother Maziasz, a native of Phillips, Wis., was initiated into Milwaukee Local 663 in 1952. The local is responsible for servicing and maintaining industrial facilities throughout Milwaukee. Maziasz would work at nearly every plant in the area during the height of the city's manufacturing boom in the '50s.

He was appointed International Representative in the Organizing Department now Membership Development—with a focus on organizing electrical manufacturing plants. One of the biggest campaigns he was involved in was at a 2,000-person GTE factory in Albuquerque, N.M. Assisting a 100-person volunteer organizing committee, Maziasz served as part of a team that successfully organized the telecom plant in 1973.

Maziasz also helped in the campaign that brought IBEW representation to thousands of workers at Washington, D.C.'s public utility, Pepco, in 1979.

"He was great guy and a real hard worker," says retired International Representative Don Mahoney, who was assigned to the Telephone Department, now the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Department. "Hundreds of workers in the manufacturing branch became members because of him," he says.

Maziasz retired in 1987. He is survived by his son and daughter.

The IBEW extends its deepest sympathy to his friends and family.