The company says: "The lighting industry has lost a true pioneer, inventor, and true ambassador. There was no-one more charismatic or passionate about his family, business or the industry.
"Mario was highly dedicated and inhaled lighting with every breath. His enthusiasm and vigour was contagious.
"Mario travelled the World and considered most of his friends as if they were family. There was no one with a bigger heart and higher level of excitement and dedication to the lighting industry.
"The entire De Sisti Organization expresses its immense gratitude and admiration to Mario, for his genius contribution and unrestful dedication to achieve the prestigious results upon always innovative products and solutions, for the worldwide professional lighting industry.
"We will all miss you Mario - there are not known words to us, good enough to express how much we will miss you."
Founded by renowned designer Mario De Sisti in Rome in February 1982, De Sisti Lighting Srl has grown to be one of the best-known manufacturers of specialist lighting and rigging products for the film and television market. Over the years the company has been responsible for a number of significant developments in lighting technology, including innovations in flicker-free electronic ballasts, single-end high efficiency HMI lamps and motorised self-climbing hoists. Its equipment and systems are installed in television studios all over the world.
The company continues to be run by Mario's two sons, Fabio and Sergio De Sisti.
(Lee Baldock)
