Industry Mourns Loss of Mark Lacey

WILMINGTON, Del. — Dr. Mark Lacey, a well known pest control industry author and speaker who most recently worked for Liphatech, passed away unexpectedly on April 30. He was 58.

Lacey is perhaps best remembered as a frequent speaker on a wide variety of topics at local, state, regional and national meetings and as author of "The Urban IPM Handbook",  co-author of the PCT Field Guide for the Management of Urban Spiders and the PCT Field Guide for the Management of Structure-Infesting Beetles (Volume II), as well as numerous technical articles in industry trade magazines.

Since 2003, Lacey has served as district sales manager of Liphatech’s northeast territory, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. “Mark was virtually an icon in the industry and a tremendous asset to the company; he will be missed,” said Liphatech CEO Carl Tanner. “He was as an extremely knowledgeable professional – and scientist at heart who loved the pest control industry. Aside from his expertise, he was very well liked and well respected, not to mention the fact that he was an all-around wonderful person. We’re saddened by this loss and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

Added Al Smith, director of marketing and business development, Liphatech, “Mark meant a great deal to Liphatech. When we hired Mark we looked at his extensive pest control background and experiences and decided that he was the right person to move into that position and hit the ground running. It will be a significant loss for us and for our customers in the northeast territory.”

Prior to joining Liphatech, Lacey was a technical consultant for the National Pest Management Association (2001-2003). He also was a former technical director for Paragon Professional Pest Control and was president of the International Pest Management Network (IPM), a consulting firm based in New Castle, Del. He also was a member of the American Entomological Society, Pi Chi Omega, Entomological Society of America and American Arachnological Society. A 1971 graduate of the University of Delaware, Lacey earned both his master's and Ph.D. in entomology from Cornell University.

Lacey is survived by his wife of 34 years, Rebecca C. Lacey; mother, Virginia M. Lacey, of Wilmington, Del.; brother, Bruce C. Lacey, of Glasgow, Del; sister, Gail L. Toppin, and her husband, Bill, of Wilmington, Del; mother and father-in-law, Ruth and Kenny Carter, of Wilmington, Del.; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold B. Lacey.

Contributions may be made to Richardson Park United Methodist Church, Mathes and Maryland Avenues, Wilmington, DE, 19804; or the Delaware Humane Society, 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE, 19801.

Additional source www.delawareonline.com