In Memoriam: Ron Spiller, Principal, R.F. Spiller & Associates

Security Industry Association (SIA) members and the security industry are mourning the recent loss of Ron Spiller, principal at R.F. Spiller & Associates, a SIA and industry icon who passed away on March 6.

Spiller, who actively participated in SIA for over 20 years, began his security industry career in 1969 as the general manager of Bourns Security Systems. In 1974, he became vice president and general manager of Morse Products Manufacturing, and when the company was acquired by Optex in 1992 he became president of Optex-Morse USA. Spiller, who started his consulting business in 1994, served as president of SIA in the early 1990s and as SIA’s executive director from 1995 to 2000. 

Spiller was a renowned security industry speaker and personality who, in addition to his service to SIA, sat on the boards of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association and the Central Station Alarm Association, negotiated sponsorship agreements between ISC Expos and the industry and founded the Safety Awareness and Independence Through Security (SAINTS) Foundation in late 1990s. He received SIA’s George R. Lippert Memorial Award in 1993 and was inducted into the Security Sales & Integration Industry Hall of Fame in 2004. He also served as the master of ceremonies for the annual California Alarm Association George Weinstock Man of the Year Award.

“Ron was a fantastic asset to the entire security industry,” said Les Gold, honorary SIA member and partner at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP. “His humor was boundless. I can attest to the fact that Ron was a genius – he completed the New York Times crossword puzzle every morning within 10 minutes!”

Spiller and his wife, Rainey, had a wonderful marriage of over 72 years. He leaves behind a great legacy in our industry and will be dearly missed.