Peter F. Secchia
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Retired Trustee
TERM AS TRUSTEE:
September 17, 1981 through June 2019
BIOGRAPHY:
During his 40 years of service to Universal Forest Products, Inc., Peter brought it from its beginnings to a multi-billion dollar corporation. After his UFPI retirement in 2003, he became managing partner of SIBSCO, a West-Michigan-based real estate development company.
From 1989 to 1993 Peter served as the U. S. Ambassador to Italy. He was presented with Italy’s highest diplomatic award, the Cavaliere di Gran Croce and the U.S. Department of State’s Distinguished Honor Award. Later he was chosen to be a trustee for John Cabot University in Rome.
His past and present civic activities include president of the Grand Rapids Economic Club, Youth Commonwealth and Rotary Club. He chaired “The Secchia Commission,” which presented Michigan’s Governor Engler with a final report on “Toward a User-Friendly Government.” He chaired the Kent County Republican organization, and was elected three times as Michigan’s Republican National Committeeman. In 1984 he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Peter Secchia was a member of the National Italian American Foundation Council of 1000 – whose headquarters in Washington DC is named after him.
Ambassador Secchia was a close personal friend/advisor to former President H.W. Bush and President Gerald R. Ford. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation and past chairman of its Endowment Committee, he chaired “Humor and the Presidency,” a three-day, celebrity-studded symposium sponsored by the foundation. This was made into a 90-minute HBO special. In 2016 Ambassador Secchia was Executive Producer on a National Geographic Film about President Ford’s life entitled “A Test of Character” (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/video/gerald-ford-a-test-of-character/).
Peter was born in Englewood, NJ and served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps (1956 to 1959). He graduated from Michigan State University in 1962 with a business school degree in economics. He passed away at his home in East Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 21, 2020. He is survived by his widow, Joan, their four children, and eleven grandchildren.
GERALD R. FORD ORAL HISTORY PROJECT:
Read Oral History Interview with Peter Secchia
FOUNDATION REMARKS:
Growing Up Grand Exhibit Opening at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
(remarks begin at 21:28 of video)
Peter Secchia hosted an outdoor luncheon for President Ford and his staff during a stop on his primary campaign’s Whistle-Stop Tour of Michigan on May 16, 1976. President Ford autographed this photo to Peter: “Peter, thanks for feeding a hungry President and his Staff. Gerald R. Ford” (Photos Courtesy of Peter Secchia (above) and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library)
(L-R) Susan Baker, President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, Trustees Peter Secchia and James Baker at the 2005 Foundation Annual Dinner.
