1. Peter Finley Secchia was an American businessman and Republican political activist, who served as the United States Ambassador to Italy and San Marino from 1989 to 1993.
22 Facts About Peter Secchia
1. 2.
Peter Secchia grew up in nearby Tenafly and graduated from Tenafly High School and then went on to attend Michigan State University.
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Peter Secchia left the university because he could not afford tuition and joined the Marines.
4.
Peter Secchia eventually earned a degree in economics in 1963.
5.
Peter Secchia was a fund-raiser in the Republican Party in Michigan.
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Peter Secchia started as chairman of the Kent County, Michigan Republican Committee and later became the chairman of the 5th Congressional District of Michigan committee.
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Peter Secchia was elected to be Michigan's Republican National Committeeman in 1980,1984, and 1988.
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Peter Secchia was a vice chairman of the Republican National Committee and headed its Midwest Region.
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Peter Secchia was host chairman of the 1985 RNC Midwest Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Peter Secchia was on the national advisory committee of the 1988 George Bush for President Committee.
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Peter Secchia founded the Lake Michigan Conference, and was a national co-chair of the Dole for President Campaign.
12.
From 1989 to 1993 Peter Secchia was the United States' ambassador to Italy.
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Peter Secchia's nomination was controversial as he was one of several made by Bush of long-time financial backers and financial supporters, including Walter Curley, Joseph Zappala, Mel Sembler, Frederic Bush Morris, and Joy Silverman.
14.
Peter Secchia was the CEO and chairman of the board of Universal Forest Products, a company that manufactures engineered wood components.
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Peter Secchia was Chairman of the River City Food Company which has 29 restaurants, catering facilities, and banquet locations in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
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Peter Secchia received the Cavaliere di Gran Croce.
17.
Peter Secchia was awarded the Department of State Distinguished Honor Award during his service as ambassador to Italy, an award given to serving ambassadors and to non-career ambassadors.
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Peter Secchia served for twelve years on the board for John Cabot University in Rome.
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Peter Secchia was a member of the National Italian American Foundation Council of 1000.
20.
Peter Secchia was founding president of the West Michigan Lodge of the Order of Sons of Italy in America; he inaugurated the Festa Italiana, the region's largest annual ethnic festival and has participated in and sponsored many Italian-American events.
21.
Peter Secchia was awarded the NIAF Special Achievement Award for International Affairs, and lent his name to The Founding Values Initiative Award.
22.
Peter Secchia died on October 21,2020, after contracting COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, on top of other health issues over several months.