Alfred W. DiTolla; Entertainment Union Leader

Alfred W. DiTolla, entertainment union executive and president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees for the last eight years. DiTolla resigned Friday, citing ill health after brain surgery last summer. During his tenure, the union increased from 60,000 members to 76,000. DiTolla attended Fordham University and the New York Law School, then began his career as a charter member of the Broadcasting Studio Employees Local 782. He merged it with Radio and Television Sound Effects employees and served as the combined group’s business representative. DiTolla became a working member of the stagehand alliance in New York in 1955. He advanced to international representative in 1974, assistant to the president in 1978 and president in 1986. The Theatrical Mutual Assn. honored him as its Entertainment Man of the Year in 1986, and in 1993 Variety named him Father of the Year for his work for Children’s Charity. On Tuesday in New York.