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Peter Secchia

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Peter Secchia
United States Ambassador to Italy
In office
July 3, 1989 – January 20, 1993
PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush
Preceded byMaxwell M. Rabb
Succeeded byReginald Bartholomew
Personal details
Born(1937-04-15)April 15, 1937
Englewood, New Jersey,U.S.
DiedOctober 21, 2020(2020-10-21)(aged 83)
East Grand Rapids, Michigan,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationMichigan State University(BA)

Peter Finley Secchia(April 15, 1937 – October 21, 2020) was an American businessman and Republican political activist, who also served as theUnited States Ambassador to ItalyandSan Marino[1]from 1989 to 1993.

Education and early life

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Secchia was born inEnglewood, New Jersey.He grew up in nearbyTenaflyand graduated fromTenafly High Schooland then went on to attendMichigan State University.[2]He left the university because he could not afford tuition and joined the Marines. He eventually earned a degree in economics in 1963.[3]

Career

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Secchia served in theUnited States Marine Corpsfrom 1956 to 1959 and graduated fromMichigan State Universityin 1963 with a degree in economics.

Secchia was a fund-raiser in theRepublican Party in Michigan.[4]He started as chairman of theKent County, MichiganRepublican Committee and later became the chairman of the 5th Congressional District of Michigan committee. He was elected to be Michigan's Republican National Committeeman in 1980, 1984, and 1988. Secchia was a vice chairman of theRepublican National Committeeand headed its Midwest Region. He was host chairman of the 1985 RNC Midwest Leadership Conference inGrand Rapids, Michigan.He was on the national advisory committee of the 1988George Bushfor President Committee. Secchia founded the Lake Michigan Conference, and was a national co-chair of theDolefor President Campaign.

From 1989 to 1993 Secchia was the United States' ambassador to Italy.[5]His nomination was controversial as he was one of several made by Bush of long-time financial backers and financial supporters, includingWalter Curley(ambassador to France),Joseph Zappala(Spain),Mel Sembler(Australia),Frederic Bush Morris(Luxembourg), andJoy Silverman(Barbados).[6]

Secchia was the CEO and chairman of the board ofUniversal Forest Products,a company that manufactures engineered wood components. He was Chairman of theRiver City Food Companywhich has 29 restaurants, catering facilities, and banquet locations in the states ofMichigan,Pennsylvania,andMaryland.

In 1994 he was appointed to chair the Secchia Commission I by Michigan governorJohn Engler,which was focused on improving government services. The Secchia Commission II focused on public sector pensions.

He received theCavaliere di Gran Croce(The Knight of the Great Cross). He also was awarded theDepartment of StateDistinguished Honor Awardduring his service as ambassador to Italy, an award given to serving ambassadors and to non-career ambassadors.

Secchia served for twelve years on the board forJohn Cabot Universityin Rome. Secchia was a member of theNational Italian American FoundationCouncil of 1000. He was founding president of the West Michigan Lodge of theOrder of Sons of Italy in America;he inaugurated theFesta Italiana,the region's largest annual ethnic festival and has participated in and sponsored many Italian-American events. He was awarded the NIAF Special Achievement Award for International Affairs, and lent his name to The Founding Values Initiative Award... the "Secchia Award for Heartfelt Commitment."

Philanthropy

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In 2010, Secchia made a $1 million outright donation to Michigan State University, to be used to build a new stadium for thewomen's softball teamatOld College Field,named Secchia Stadium.

Secchia Hall, a building on theMSU College of Human MedicineGrand Rapids campus, is named after Secchia. The building is part of theGrand Rapids Medical Mile.[7]

Secchia Hall, a residence hall on theGrand Valley State University's Pew Campus, is also named after Secchia.[8][9]

Death

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Secchia died on October 21, 2020, after contractingCOVID-19during theCOVID-19 pandemic in Michiganon top of other health issues over several months.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^Rosati, Jerel A.; Scott, James M. (January 15, 2010).The Politics of United States Foreign Policy.Cengage Learning. pp. 139–.ISBN978-0-495-79724-1.RetrievedJuly 5,2011.
  2. ^"Obituary: Peter F. Secchia",Blue Book Services, October 21, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2021. "Born April 15, 1937, Peter spent his early years in Tenafly, NJ, graduating from Tenafly High School and then serving in the United States Marine Corps with NATO and the 2nd Battalion 6th Marines in Beirut."
  3. ^Johnson, Mark."Peter Secchia, top MSU donor and prominent Republican, dies after contracting COVID-19".Lansing State Journal.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
  4. ^Roberts, Sam (October 30, 2020)."Peter Secchia, Confidant of Ford and Bush, Dies at 83".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedOctober 31,2020.
  5. ^"The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR PETER F. SECCHIA"(PDF).Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training.June 6, 1994.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  6. ^"True to tradition. President Bush is rewarding his long-time financial backers and political supporters with desirable ambassadorships, mostly in Western Europe".The Financial Times.April 2, 1990.
  7. ^"Secchia provides lead gift, Grand Action to help campaign as MSU board launches plan to change the way medicine is taught, delivered".MSUToday.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
  8. ^"Secchia Hall - Facilities Services - Grand Rapids and Regional Centers - Grand Valley State University".Grand Valley State University.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
  9. ^"Secchia Hall - Housing and Residence Life - Grand Valley State University".Grand Valley State University.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
  10. ^"Former US Ambassador Peter Secchia dies at 83".WOODTV.com.October 21, 2020.RetrievedNovember 26,2020.
  11. ^"West Michigan business leader Peter Secchia dies at 83; COVID-19 was 'contributing factor'".Crain's Detroit Business.October 21, 2020.RetrievedNovember 26,2020.
  • "Secchia provides naming gift for new MSU softball stadium",Michigan State University News
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Italy
1989–1993 		Succeeded by
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