In Memoriam: Paul James Pitfield

Paul James Pitfield, founder of Pitfield & Associates Inc., in Sacramento, California, and Pitfield & Associates Pty. Ltd. in Sydney, Australia, passed away on June 23 at age 81 in Oatlands, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Born in Sydney, NSW, Pitfield began his elevator industry career in 1960 after completing an apprenticeship as an electrical mechanic. In Sydney, he worked for EPL (now KONE) and in New Zealand, for Otis. After earning an electrical engineering degree, he joined NSW Public Works as an electrical engineer. He traveled to the U.S. in 1983, taking a position as an elevator consultant with Hesse, Kesselburg & Associates in San Francisco. In 1990, he established Pitfield & Associates Inc. (PAI) in Sacramento, becoming an American citizen shortly thereafter. In 2006, while on a business trip to his hometown of Sydney, he collaborated with Noel Smith and Sam Strykowski to create a sister corporation to PAI, Pitfield & Associates Pty. Ltd. Pitfield became ill in 2017, retired in 2018 and returned to Sydney. Survivors include his daughters, Naomi and Lauren. “May he rest in peace,” friend and colleague Strykowski said.