Theodore (Ted) Dzus Jr., 80, died April 9. He became president of Dzus Fastener Co. of West Islip, NY, in 1982.
He was grandson of company founder William Dzus, an American engineer of Ukrainian descent who invented and patented the Dzus Fastener -- a cam-locking fastener that only required a quarter-turn to lock.
Working for his grandfather and father at Dzus Fastener in the 1960s, he expanded the company's initial market beyond the aircraft industry into the motorsports and custom automotive arenas. He was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.
He also extended Dzus Fasteners into medical hardware by creating a fastener to repair complex long bone fractures.
He was active in preserving Ukrainian culture through the Ukrainian Institute of America.
Survivors include his spouse Carol; children Todd Dzus, Dara Fedele, Christine Dzus and Lori Miller.