Lonnie A. Bassett; Sheet Metal Workers’ Union Official

Lonnie A. Bassett, 62, secretary-treasurer of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Assn., AFL-CIO. Bassett joined the Washington-based sheet metal workers’ international office in 1961. In 1970 he became director of organizing for the union, serving in that capacity until 1985. That same year he was appointed secretary-treasurer. A statement by the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Assn. described Bassett as an “outspoken advocate for the need to establish programs upgrading members’ skills to better compete for jobs.” In New York on Saturday of a heart attack after returning from Denmark where he was a delegate to the International Metalworkers’ Federation.