The industry mourns the passing of two of its members last week, Steve Fahlmark, a popular manufacturer’s rep and Lukas Louw, who helped engineer Hifonics car audio products.
Steve Fahlmark, age 54, was the principal of the manufacturer’s rep Midwest Sales group, IL with over 25 years’ experience in the industry. He began his career on the retail floor of Y.E.S. Electronics where he worked up to store manager. He then worked as a rep at Brook Marketing and became VP of Leading Edge Sales & Marketing before starting his own rep firm 17 years ago.
Steve was especially proud of his son Max, who, following in his father’s footsteps, just launched his own rep firm, Fahlmarketing, in Chicagoland this year.
Scott Payne of distributor Woofer Electronics Distributors wrote, “Steve influenced and mentored many over the years and will be fondly remembered. Steve’s vibrant personality and infectious smile will be greatly missed.” (Chicagoland retailer Marty Deane of Soundz Plus shared the sentiment.)
A memorial service will be held for Steve at 7 pm, Wednesday, November 18 at the Nelson Funeral Home in Yorkville, IL.
Lukas Abraham Louw, 66, of Holly Springs, NC, died unexpectedly of cancer on Wednesday, November 11. He was one of the original engineers who worked with Hifonics founder Helmut Stieglitz.
Alden Stiefel, President of Maxxsonics, parent of Hifonics said, “Last week Maxxsonics lost a very integral part of its family. Lukas Lowe was not only our Chief Engineer he was a very dear friend of mine and he will be sorely missed. Lukas’s contribution to the mobile audio industry will go unmatched.”
Lukas was born in South Africa and eventually migrated to the US as an electronic engineer.
Stiefel added, “Lukas was with Hifonics from the moment it started. He was one of the nicest guys. One time I called him on a Monday and asked if he could go to China on a Wednesday and he said, ‘no problem.’ He was a family man, his family was the most important thing to him.”
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to the American Cancer Society. In honor of his memory, raise a toast to him.
Top photo: Steve Fahlmark
Steve was a really great, fun cat, and he will be missed by many. He was often the ‘life of the party,’ with his easy laugh and engaging personality. I had the pleasure of working with him on the launch of a few brands, including Diamond and again in 2008. I referred to him as, and would often greet him as — “The ‘James Brown’ of Car Audio Reps,” due to his well-deserved, ‘hardest working’ reputation, as a one-man Rep firm. I’m saddened by his passing, but am glad that his legacy will be carried on, and sincerely wish Max the best in his future endeavors in this realm. He was a ‘bright light’ in our Industry and a terrible loss as a friend, but was a stellar example of achieving great success, from the synergy of focused, hard work and being very good at your craft. 😌
Some really horrible news in the last days. Very sorry to hear about Lukus and Steve in a single note. I only had the privilege of working with Lukus a couple times during my time with Maxxsonics, he was a consummate professional and a brilliant engineer.
Fahlmark on the other hand – we had loads of dealer trips, CES’ and product trainings and meetings during my time at Rockford and then even some quality beer time in Chicago over the last years. Nothing like hearing Steve bellow “Parvin!!!” from across a packed Chicago bar. His big personality will be missed in my life and the industry.
2020 can not f#ck off soon enough.
I have known Steve for over 25 years. Steve represented a number of lines we carried when I was in the retail business. He then then hired me to work with him at Leading Edge. I highly respected him and he was a very good mentor for me. It came as no surprise when I heard, and saw, the outpouring of grief when we learned about his passing. Everyone who knew Steve admired and respected him. In his local Chicagoland area, he will leave a legacy as a great salesman and a man of exceptional ethics. My sincerest condolences go out to Steve’s family.
The Rockford family is keeping the Fahlmark family in our thoughts and prayers. RIP Steve