Paul Oreffice, Successful Horse Owner, Businessman, Dies at 97
01/06/2025 03:58 PM
Paul F. Oreffice, who spoke fewer than 50 words of English when he arrived in America in the mid-1940s and went on to become a partner in multiple Classic-winning Thoroughbred horses in addition to a successful career in the business world, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona. He was 97 years old.
Born in Venice, Italy, on Nov. 29, 1927, Oreffice moved with his family to Quito, Ecuador, and came to the U.S. in 1945, attending Purdue University despite his very limited English-language skills. He graduated from the Indiana school in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, served two years in the U.S. Army and eventually joined the Dow Chemical Company in February 1953. After several overseas assignments in Italy, Brazil and Spain, he landed at Dow headquarters in Midland, Michigan, in 1970 and became the company's CEO in 1978. He later became the Chairman of the Board and retired in 1992.
Oreffice also served on the boards of CIGNA, Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley and Nortel Networks. He was also chairman of The American Enterprise Institute, The National Parkinson's Foundation and was on the visiting board of MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was recognized with Spain's highest civilian award and was the recipient of the top medals awarded by the world's three premier chemical organizations.
A Life Master in Bridge, skilled at ping-pong and a single-digit handicap golfer before giving up that discipline for tennis, Oreffice was also an enthusiastic sports fan, particularly of the Miami Dolphins and his alma mater Boilermakers.
After riding horses as a child, Oreffice invested in horses for the last four decades, participating in partnerships with Dogwood Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Among his career highlights were the GI Preakness Stakes with Summer Squall and the GI Belmont Stakes with Palace Malice. He had ownership interests in eight Kentucky Derby starters, finishing second, third and fourth. He served on the board of the New York Racing Association, was chairman of Saratoga War Horse and maintained a home in Saratoga.
Oreffice is survived by his wife of 29 years, Jo Ann Pepper Oreffice; children Laura Jennison (Jon) and Andy Oreffice (Jamie); six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
“Paul Oreffice lived a wonderful and inspiring life and leaves behind a tremendous legacy in the business world, Thoroughbred racing, and through his family,” said Charlotte Weber, chair of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. “He was admired throughout the sport and a good friend to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He will be greatly missed.”
Added Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher: “Paul Oreffice was the definition of gentleman, businessman, family man, husband and friend. We will miss him greatly.”
“Paul was as game and as enthusiastic of a horse owner as they come,” Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman said. “He adored racing horses, he enjoyed gambling on races and he generously supported any number of industry-related charitable causes. When he joined Eclipse as a partner in 2013 after three decades of being synonymous with Cot Campbell's Dogwood Stable, I had no idea how powerful and meaningful of an impact he'd have on our stable, and more importantly, on my life. He was a truly great, great man who was larger than life and the sport of horse racing and everyone he meant so much to will miss him deeply. He leaves behind an unfillable void.”
A celebration of life for Paul Oreffice will take place Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at 4 p.m. at Paradise Valley Country Club. A private entombment will occur in Saratoga at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Oreffice's memory to The Purdue For Life Foundation (purdueforlife.org), the Parkinson's Foundation (parkinson.org) or MD Anderson Cancer Center (mdanderson.org).
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