LONG BEACH, Calif. (BRAIN) — Matthew Pfeffer, a long-time bike industry testing engineer and vice president of global operations at ACT Lab, died Thursday. He was 50.
Pfeffer died from complications stemming from an acute case of influenza.
Pfeffer, born in Madelia, Minn., worked for Trek Bicycle as an engineering test lab manager from 1997 to 2008. While at Trek he expanded the company's test program from Wisconsin to Taiwan, allowing Trek's vendors to test products directly in Asia.
In 2008, Pfeffer joined the newly formed ACT Lab and again landed in Asia to coordinate, set up and manage testing at the ACT China testing lab in Taicang, outside of Shanghai. He was recently promoted to VP of global operations, overseeing all testing and operational duties for both ACT USA and China laboratories. ACT Lab is an independent, third-party testing lab for bicycles, helmets and children’s products and accessories to meet federal requirements and regulations. They have testing facilities in China and in Long Beach, California.
Pfeffer also was an active and contributing member of bike standards committees at ASTM and ISO.
"The loss of Matt has come as a shock to us all, and he will be greatly missed. He was an integral part of our team. His dedicated service has helped ACT to achieve its goals from the company's inception," said John Bogler, the president and general manager of ACT Lab. "We have not only lost an exceptional co-worker, but an amazing human, good friend and even greater father."
Pfeffer leaves behind three children, girls Martine (25), Alexandria (22), and Liberty (15), along with his wife of many years, Pamela.
A fund in the name of Pfeffer's children is being set up to take donations in conjunction with Gearing Up For Hope, a 501C(3) foundation supporting developing countries in the promotion of human-powered transportation. Messages can be sent to Pfeffer's family through email at info@gearingupforhope.com.
