David Oreck: Difference between revisions

David Oreck
David Oreck
	Oreck in 2008
Born	David Irving Oreck; September 17, 1923; Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	February 15, 2023 (aged 99); Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Spouse	Jan
Children	3, including Bruce

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 02:17, 15 November 2024

David Irving Oreck (September 17, 1923 – February 15, 2023) was an American entrepreneur, business salesman, and speaker. He founded Oreck Corporation, manufacturers of vacuum cleaners and air purifiers, and was known for his appearances in its television commercials.^[2]

Early life

Oreck was born on September 17, 1923, in Duluth, Minnesota,^[2] to Jewish parents Abraham and Sheba Oreck (née Polinsky).^[3] He attended the University of Minnesota Duluth. When he was a child, his father took him on a flight in a Ford Trimotor and, on the ice of Lake Superior, the aircraft landed on skis. The experience proved so exciting to Oreck that he became fascinated with planes, and the mechanics of engines and electronics.^[2]^[4]

Shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Oreck joined the United States Army Air Corps and served as pilot, navigator, and bombardier in the Pacific Theater for over two years. He participated in bombing missions over Japan in B-29s.^[2]

RCA

Following World War II, Oreck joined RCA in New York, working there for 17 years and becoming sales manager. He helped to market washing machines, microwave ovens and televisions. Oreck accompanied RCA General Manager David Sarnoff at congressional hearings to develop standards for color television broadcasts.^[2]

Whilst employed by RCA, Oreck ran his own aircraft charter service, frequently stepping in as pilot. He established businesses providing shared television aerials for apartment buildings in New York City, and teaching radio and television repair in Spanish by direct mail.^[2]

Oreck Corporation

Oreck was asked to take over a failing RCA distributor in New Orleans. It came with the abandoned design for an upright vacuum cleaner by Whirlpool, a business RCA had a shareholding in. However, Whirlpool's largest customer, Sears was concerned the arrangement would compete with them so in 1963, Oreck and his brother Marshall set up Oreck Corporation to independently sell his own vacuum cleaners by mail order.^[5] By 1965, the firm was also the exclusive wholesaler for RCA products in Louisiana. His 8 pounds (3.6 kg) appliance was a third the weight of other machines available. Competitors used this to criticize Oreck's vacuum cleaner's effectiveness and durability. Oreck decided to first market to hotels where light weight would be a selling point.^[6]^[2]^[7]

Over 50,000 hotels worldwide adopted the US manufactured vacuum cleaner, that was light enough to carry between floors, and domestic customers went on to purchase them, often through the floor care stores Oreck established across the country.^[7]^[6]

Oreck explained, he had "a good idea, a lot of energy, and no money" but "it took 20 years of hard work to begin to succeed".^[2]

The Oreck family sold their vacuum cleaner business to private equity investors in 2003, initially American Securities Capital Partners. Ten years later, following Chapter 11 bankruptcy it was purchased by Techtronic Industries.^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]

Later years

Oreck remained active in aviation, maintaining and flying his personal collection of aircraft, which included a Stinson Reliant SR 10J, a Waco WMF, an Aviat Husky Amphibian, an American Champion Decathlon, a Beechcraft Staggerwing G-17S, and a Beech T-34A Mentor.^[12]

Oreck spoke at universities around the U.S., seeking to inspire young entrepreneurs and businesspeople.^[13] He told his audiences "[You can] see I'm no genius. I didn't get started until I was 40. I did it. You can do it. Only in America could this happen."^[12]

David Oreck founded Oreck Pure Air Candles in 2009.^[14]

Personal life

Oreck had a wife, Jan; three adult children (Steven, Tom, and Bruce) from his previous marriage to Paula Sarnoff (niece of David Sarnoff), and seven grandchildren. ^[15]^[6]^[1]

Oreck died on February 15, 2023, at his home in Mississippi.^[16] He was 99.^[17]^[18]

Philanthropy

Oreck and his family have donated money and specimens to mineralogical museums and exhibitions including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science; the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, and Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems.^[19]^[20]^[21]

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans have credited Oreck and his family as major contributors to their Jewish community, and New Orleans as a whole.^[22]

Oreck made significant contributions to the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans.^{[citation needed]}

Books

From Dust to Diamonds, 2013. TAG, Amarillo ISBN 978-1934606438^[23]

References

^ ^a ^b LeMaster, C J; Burks, Bob (September 23, 2014). "David Oreck: Still keeping busy at age 91". WLBT. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Scripps, Howard (February 24, 2006). "At 82, David Oreck Never Gives Up". Back Channel Media. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008.
^ "Marshall Oreck Obituary (2021) - New Orleans, LA - The Times-Picayune". Legacy.com.
^ "Old Newspaper Articles". www.garon.us. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ "Marshall Oreck, New Orleans resident and 1 of 2 brothers behind Oreck vacuums, dies | News | nola.com". www.nola.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Family Business Legend David Oreck | Founder of Oreck Corp". Family Business. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "eSpeakers Marketplace". www.espeakers.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ Thomas, Andrew R; Wilkinson, Timothy J (2015). The Customer Trap: How to Avoid the Biggest Mistake in Business. New York: Apress. ISBN 978-1484203866.
^ "Oreck Family Offers $22M for Vacuum Company". American Bankruptcy Institute. 2013. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
^ III, G. Chambers Williams (July 9, 2013). "Hoover parent snaps up Oreck at auction". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
^ Care, TTI Floor (July 16, 2013). "TTI Statement on Acquisition of Oreck". www.prnewswire.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Kovacevich, Patty. "Airport Journals". Airport Journals. Archived from the original on September 5, 2006.
^ "Pace University – Lubin School of Business – Entrepreneur in Residence". Pace University. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
^ "About US". Oreck Pure Air Candles. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
^ Traubman, Len (1994), The Oreckovsky Family:From Russia to America, Oreck Foundation, p. 245, ISBN 1-881529-05-3
^ Kampeas, Ron (February 17, 2023). "David Oreck, known as founder of vacuum cleaner company, will be memorialized on Feb. 23". Crescent City Jewish News. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
^ writer, STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff (February 16, 2023). "David Oreck, founder of vacuum company and World War II aviator, dead at 99". NOLA.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "DAVID ORECK Obituary (2023) - New Orleans, LA - New York Times". Legacy.com.
^ Jackson, M A; Momich, Betsy (2005). "Hillman Hall of Minerals & Gems, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year..." Carnegie Online. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ Slagle, Jake (September 24, 2014). "A Privileged Visit to the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum". Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ "Long Term Collection Research Plan" (PDF). Denver Museum of Natural Sciences. 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ Luxner, Larry (July 13, 2006). "As dust of storm settles, Oreck vacuum firm still cleaning up". Jweekly.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
^ From Dust to Diamonds. ASIN 193460643X.

External links

David Oreck at IMDb

[ui-1] LeMaster, C J; Burks, Bob (September 23, 2014). "David Oreck: Still keeping busy at age 91". WLBT. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[backchannel-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Scripps, Howard (February 24, 2006). "At 82, David Oreck Never Gives Up". Back Channel Media. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008.

[3] "Marshall Oreck Obituary (2021) - New Orleans, LA - The Times-Picayune". Legacy.com.

[4] "Old Newspaper Articles". www.garon.us. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[5] "Marshall Oreck, New Orleans resident and 1 of 2 brothers behind Oreck vacuums, dies | News | nola.com". www.nola.com.

[iu-6] "Family Business Legend David Oreck | Founder of Oreck Corp". Family Business. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[es-7] "eSpeakers Marketplace". www.espeakers.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[8] Thomas, Andrew R; Wilkinson, Timothy J (2015). The Customer Trap: How to Avoid the Biggest Mistake in Business. New York: Apress. ISBN 978-1484203866.

[9] "Oreck Family Offers $22M for Vacuum Company". American Bankruptcy Institute. 2013. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.

[10] III, G. Chambers Williams (July 9, 2013). "Hoover parent snaps up Oreck at auction". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2017.

[11] Care, TTI Floor (July 16, 2013). "TTI Statement on Acquisition of Oreck". www.prnewswire.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[airport_journals-12] Kovacevich, Patty. "Airport Journals". Airport Journals. Archived from the original on September 5, 2006.

[13] "Pace University – Lubin School of Business – Entrepreneur in Residence". Pace University. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2008.

[14] "About US". Oreck Pure Air Candles. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2015.

[15] Traubman, Len (1994), The Oreckovsky Family:From Russia to America, Oreck Foundation, p. 245, ISBN 1-881529-05-3

[16] Kampeas, Ron (February 17, 2023). "David Oreck, known as founder of vacuum cleaner company, will be memorialized on Feb. 23". Crescent City Jewish News. Retrieved October 17, 2024.

[17] writer, STEPHANIE RIEGEL | Staff (February 16, 2023). "David Oreck, founder of vacuum company and World War II aviator, dead at 99". NOLA.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[18] "DAVID ORECK Obituary (2023) - New Orleans, LA - New York Times". Legacy.com.

[19] Jackson, M A; Momich, Betsy (2005). "Hillman Hall of Minerals & Gems, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year..." Carnegie Online. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[20] Slagle, Jake (September 24, 2014). "A Privileged Visit to the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum". Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[21] "Long Term Collection Research Plan" (PDF). Denver Museum of Natural Sciences. 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[22] Luxner, Larry (July 13, 2006). "As dust of storm settles, Oreck vacuum firm still cleaning up". Jweekly.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2011.

[23] From Dust to Diamonds. ASIN 193460643X.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American businessman (1923–2023)}}
-'''David Oreck''', (born [[1924]]) an American salesman and businessman, born in [[Duluth, Minnesota]]. Founder of the Oreck Corporation famous for its line of [[vacuum cleaners]].
+{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
+{{Infobox person
+| name               =
+| image              = David Oreck profile (cropped).jpg
+| caption            = Oreck in 2008
+| birth_name         = David Irving Oreck
+| birth_date         = {{birth date|1923|9|17}}
+| birth_place        = [[Duluth, Minnesota]], U.S.
+| death_date         = {{death date and age|2023|2|15|1923|9|17}}
+| death_place        = [[Mississippi]], U.S.
+| occupation         = Businessman, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
+| spouse             = Jan<ref name=ui>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wlbt.com/story/26599151/david-oreckstill-keeping-busy-at-age-91|title=David Oreck: Still keeping busy at age 91|first1=C J|last1=LeMaster|first2=Bob|last2=Burks|website=WLBT|date=September 23, 2014 |access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=August 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808033642/https://www.wlbt.com/story/26599151/david-oreckstill-keeping-busy-at-age-91/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+| children           = 3, including [[Bruce J. Oreck|Bruce]]
+| footnotes          =
+}}
+'''David Irving Oreck''' (September 17, 1923 – February 15, 2023) was an American entrepreneur, business salesman, and speaker. He founded Oreck Corporation, manufacturers of [[vacuum cleaners]] and [[air purifier]]s, and was known for his appearances in its television commercials.<ref name=backchannel/>
-==Early Work==
-Before starting his well-known vacuum cleaner business, Oreck served in the military, worked for [[RCA]], and dabbled in other entreprenurial ventures.
-===Military Service===
+==Early life==
+Oreck was born on September 17, 1923, in [[Duluth, Minnesota]],<ref name=backchannel/> to [[Jewish]] parents Abraham and Sheba Oreck (née Polinsky).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://obits.nola.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/marshall-oreck-obituary?id=6711693|title=Marshall Oreck Obituary (2021) - New Orleans, LA - The Times-Picayune|website=Legacy.com}}</ref> He attended the [[University of Minnesota Duluth]]. When he was a child, his father took him on a flight in a [[Ford Trimotor]] and, on the ice of [[Lake Superior]], the aircraft landed on skis. The experience proved so exciting to Oreck that he became fascinated with planes, and the mechanics of engines and electronics.<ref name="backchannel">{{Cite web|website=Back Channel Media|url=http://www.backchannelmedia.com/newsletter/articles/3215/At-82-David-Oreck-Never-Gives-Up|title=At 82, David Oreck Never Gives Up|date=2006-02-24|last=Scripps|first=Howard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411062737/http://www.backchannelmedia.com/newsletter/articles/3215/At-82-David-Oreck-Never-Gives-Up |archive-date=2008-04-11 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.garon.us/newsindex.html|title=Old Newspaper Articles|website=www.garon.us|access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=January 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116063142/http://garon.us/newsindex.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
-Oreck joined the [[United States Army Air Forces]] at age 17. He served as a certified pilot, navigator, and bombadier for over 3 years. A [[World War II]] veteran, Oreck flew bombing missions over [[Japan]] in what were then considered state-of-the-art [[B-29]]s.
+Shortly after [[Pearl Harbor#Sunday December 7, 1941|Pearl Harbor]] was attacked, Oreck joined the [[United States Army Air Forces|United States Army Air]] Corps and served as pilot, navigator, and bombardier in the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theater]] for over two years. He participated in bombing missions over Japan in [[B-29]]s.<ref name=backchannel/>
-===RCA Career===
-Oreck started out as a salesman and wholesale distributor for RCA in [[New York]]. He worked with the company for 17 years, eventually reaching the level of general sales manager. It was around this time that the American public was introduced to several new products that Oreck helped market. These items included the [[washing machine]], the [[microwave oven]], the black and white and color [[television]]s. He even accompanied RCA General Manager [[David Sarnoff]] at congressional hearings when the [[Federal Communications Commission]] was looking to develop standards for color television broadcasts.
-===Entrepreneur===
+==RCA==
+Following [[World War II]], Oreck  joined [[RCA]] in [[New York City|New York]], working there for 17 years and becoming sales manager. He helped to market [[washing machine]]s, [[microwave oven]]s and [[television]]s. Oreck accompanied RCA General Manager [[David Sarnoff]] at [[congressional hearing]]s to develop standards for color television broadcasts.<ref name="backchannel"/>
-The vacuum cleaner business was not Oreck's first. During his last years at RCA he started a charter aircraft service on the side for which he did much of the flying. Another venture involved a central antenna system in New York that would wire apartment buildings for television use. He even started a company to teach radio and television repair in Spanish by direct mail.
+Whilst employed by RCA, Oreck ran his own aircraft charter service, frequently stepping in as pilot. He established businesses providing shared television aerials for apartment buildings in New York City, and teaching radio and television repair in Spanish by [[direct mail]].<ref name="backchannel"/>
 ==Oreck Corporation==
+Oreck was asked to take over a failing RCA distributor in [[New Orleans]]. It came with the abandoned design for an upright [[vacuum cleaner]] by [[Whirlpool Corporation|Whirlpool]], a business RCA had a shareholding in. However, Whirlpool's largest customer, [[Sears]] was concerned the arrangement would compete with them so in 1963, Oreck and his brother Marshall set up '''Oreck Corporation''' to independently sell his own vacuum cleaners by [[mail order]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/news/marshall-oreck-new-orleans-resident-and-1-of-2-brothers-behind-oreck-vacuums-dies/article_ce60ef1e-79f2-11eb-b0e6-a79a82795ff4.amp.html|title=Marshall Oreck, New Orleans resident and 1 of 2 brothers behind Oreck vacuums, dies &#124; News &#124; nola.com|website=www.nola.com}}</ref> By 1965, the firm was also the exclusive wholesaler for RCA products in Louisiana. His {{convert|8|lb|kg}} appliance was a third the weight of other machines available. Competitors used this to criticize Oreck's vacuum cleaner's effectiveness and durability. Oreck decided to first market to hotels where light weight would be a selling point.<ref name=iu>{{Cite web|url=https://www.familybusinessmagazine.com/family-business-legends-david-oreck|title=Family Business Legend David Oreck &#124; Founder of Oreck Corp|website=Family Business|access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=August 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808033641/https://www.familybusinessmagazine.com/family-business-legends-david-oreck|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="backchannel"/><ref name="es"/>
-Oreck acquired an abandoned design for an upright vacuum cleaner from RCA subsidiary [[Whirlpool Corporation|Whirlpool]] and a failing RCA distribution facility in [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]. Using these assets he formed the Oreck Corporation in [[1963]] at the age of 40.
+Over 50,000 hotels worldwide adopted the US manufactured vacuum cleaner, that was light enough to carry between floors, and domestic customers went on to purchase them, often through the floor care stores Oreck established across the country.<ref name=es>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espeakers.com/marketplace/profile/9175/david-oreck-founder-david-oreck-founder|title=eSpeakers Marketplace|website=www.espeakers.com|access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=August 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808045140/https://www.espeakers.com/marketplace/profile/9175/david-oreck-founder-david-oreck-founder|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="iu"/>
-He felt that "Like airplanes, great vacuums must be light, powerful, dependable, brilliantly designed and exceptionally engineered." When Oreck said "light", he meant it, as his 8 pound design was a third of the weight of other machines available. Competitors, however, used this fact to criticize his vacuum cleaner's effectiveness and durability. Oreck was able to build up a good reputation for the machine by first marketing to hotels where light weight would be a big positive factor.
+Oreck explained, he had "a good idea, a lot of energy, and no money" but "it took 20 years of hard work to begin to succeed".<ref name="backchannel"/>
-Today Oreck vacuum cleaners are used in over 50,000 hotels and in countless homes across the country. They are produced in the United States along with the rest of the Oreck line of products. The company employs more than 1,500 Americans at the company's retail stores and production center in [[Long Beach, Mississippi]].
+The Oreck family sold their vacuum cleaner business to [[private equity]] investors in 2003, initially [[American Securities|American Securities Capital Partners]]. Ten years later, following [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] it was purchased by [[Techtronic Industries]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Andrew R |title=The Customer Trap: How to Avoid the Biggest Mistake in Business |last2=Wilkinson |first2=Timothy J |publisher=Apress |publication-place=New York |year=2015 |isbn=978-1484203866}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abi.org/feed-item/oreck-family-offers-22m-for-vacuum-company|title=Oreck Family Offers $22M for Vacuum Company|website=American Bankruptcy Institute|date=2013|access-date=August 11, 2022|archive-date=August 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811083842/https://www.abi.org/feed-item/oreck-family-offers-22m-for-vacuum-company|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/09/oreck-bankruptcy-hoover-auction/2504095/|title=Hoover parent snaps up Oreck at auction|first=G. Chambers Williams|last=III|website=USA TODAY|access-date=2017-08-26|archive-date=2016-11-15|date=2013-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115191635/http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/09/oreck-bankruptcy-hoover-auction/2504095/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tti-statement-on-acquisition-of-oreck-215754271.html|date=2013-07-16|title=TTI Statement on Acquisition of Oreck|first=TTI Floor|last=Care|website=www.prnewswire.com|access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=May 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515161655/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tti-statement-on-acquisition-of-oreck-215754271.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
-==Personal Life==
-Oreck has a wife, Jan, three adult children, and seven grandchildren. One of his sons, Tom, is currently the CEO of the Oreck Corporation.
+==Later years==
-He continues to be active in aviation, maintaining and flying his personal collection of aircraft which include a Stinson Reliant SR 10J, a WACO WMF, an Aviat Husky Amphibian, an American Champion Decathlon, a Staggerwing Beech G-17S, a Beech T-34A Mentor, and a Twin Beech H-18.
+Oreck remained active in [[aviation]], maintaining and flying his personal collection of aircraft, which included a [[Stinson Reliant]] SR 10J, a [[Waco Aircraft Company|Waco]] [[Waco F series|WMF]], an [[Aviat Husky]] [[Amphibian aircraft|Amphibian]], an [[American Champion Decathlon]], a [[Beechcraft Staggerwing]] G-17S, and a [[Beechcraft|Beech]] [[T-34 Mentor|T-34A Mentor]].<ref name="airport journals"/>
+Oreck spoke at universities around the U.S., seeking to inspire young entrepreneurs and businesspeople.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=1712|website=Pace University|title=Pace University – Lubin School of Business – Entrepreneur in Residence|access-date=2008-03-20|archive-date=2008-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415150141/http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=1712|url-status=live}}</ref> He told his audiences "[You can] see I'm no genius. I didn't get started until I was 40. I did it. You can do it. Only in America could this happen."<ref name="airport journals">{{Cite web|first=Patty|last=Kovacevich|url=http://www.airportjournals.com/Display.cfm?varID=0508004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905020836/http://www.airportjournals.com/Display.cfm?varID=0508004|title=Airport Journals|website=Airport Journals|archive-date=September 5, 2006}}</ref>
+David Oreck founded Oreck Pure Air Candles in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=About US|url=https://davidoreckcandles.com/about-us/|website=Oreck Pure Air Candles|access-date=2 October 2015|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213091437/https://davidoreckcandles.com/about-us/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+==Personal life==
+Oreck had a wife, Jan; three adult children (Steven, Tom, and [[Bruce J. Oreck|Bruce]]) from his previous marriage to Paula Sarnoff (niece of [[David Sarnoff]]), and seven grandchildren.
+<ref>{{Citation|first=Len|last=Traubman|title=The Oreckovsky Family:From Russia to America|date=1994|pages=245|publisher=Oreck Foundation|isbn=1-881529-05-3}}</ref><ref name=iu/><ref name=ui/>
+Oreck died on February 15, 2023, at his home in Mississippi.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kampeas |first=Ron |date=2023-02-17 |title=David Oreck, known as founder of vacuum cleaner company, will be memorialized on Feb. 23 |url=https://www.crescentcityjewishnews.com/david-oreck-known-as-founder-of-vacuum-cleaner-company-will-be-memorialized-on-feb-23/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Crescent City Jewish News |language=en}}</ref> He was 99.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/news/business/david-oreck-vacuum-company-founder-dead-at-99/article_f1c2adf2-ae30-11ed-b92b-4303b5a3ec94.html|title=David Oreck, founder of vacuum company and World War II aviator, dead at 99|first=STEPHANIE RIEGEL &#124; Staff|last=writer|website=NOLA.com|date=February 16, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/david-oreck-obituary?id=47551563 | title=DAVID ORECK Obituary (2023) - New Orleans, LA - New York Times | website=[[Legacy.com]] }}</ref>
 ==Philanthropy==
+Oreck and his family have donated money and specimens to [[Mineralogy|mineralogical]] museums and exhibitions including the [[Denver Museum of Nature and Science]]; the [[Colorado School of Mines]] Geology Museum, and [[Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carnegiemuseums.org/magazine-archive/2005/fall/feature2.html|title=Hillman Hall of Minerals & Gems, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year...|first1=M A|last1=Jackson|first2=Betsy|last2=Momich|date=2005|website=Carnegie Online|access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=August 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808195943/https://carnegiemuseums.org/magazine-archive/2005/fall/feature2.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mineralbliss.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-privileged-visit-to-colorado-school.html|first=Jake|last=Slagle|date=2014-09-24|title=A Privileged Visit to the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum|access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=August 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808195933/http://mineralbliss.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-privileged-visit-to-colorado-school.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dmns.org/media/1810155/long-term-collections-research-plan-2022-2026-v1.pdf |title=Long Term Collection Research Plan|date=2022|website=Denver Museum of Natural Sciences |access-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-date=June 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605152308/https://www.dmns.org/media/1810155/long-term-collections-research-plan-2022-2026-v1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
-Along with his son Bruce, Oreck has donated a great deal of money to mineralogical museums in Colorado. He has contributed to both the [[Denver Museum of Nature and Science]] and the [[Colorado School of Mines]] Geology Museum collections.
+The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans have credited Oreck and his family as major contributors to their Jewish community, and New Orleans as a whole.<ref>{{cite web |last=Luxner |first=Larry |url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/29781/as-dust-of-storm-settles-oreck-vacuum-firm-still-cleaning-up/ |title=As dust of storm settles, Oreck vacuum firm still cleaning up |publisher=Jweekly.com |date=2006-07-13 |access-date=2011-10-06 |archive-date=2016-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505100600/http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/29781/as-dust-of-storm-settles-oreck-vacuum-firm-still-cleaning-up/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Oreck made significant contributions to the [[Isidore Newman School]] in New Orleans.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
+==Books==
+* ''From Dust to Diamonds'', 2013. TAG, Amarillo {{isbn|978-1934606438}}<ref>{{Cite book |title=From Dust to Diamonds |id={{ASIN|193460643X|country=uk}} }}</ref>
+==References==
+{{reflist}}
-==External link and reference==
+==External links==
-*[http://www.oreck.com/ Oreck Corporation website]
+*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4480538/bio David Oreck] at [[IMDb]]
-*[http://www.airportjournals.com/Display.cfm?varID=0508004/ Airport Journals article]
-[[Category:American World War II veterans|Oreck, David]]
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Oreck, David}}
-[[Category:Vacuum cleaners|Oreck, David]]
+[[Category:1923 births]]
-[[Category:American chief executives|Oreck, David]]
+[[Category:2023 deaths]]
-[[Category:1924 births|Oreck, David]]
+[[Category:People from Duluth, Minnesota]]
-[[Category:Living people|Oreck, David]]
+[[Category:Jewish American military personnel]]
+[[Category:American chief executives]]
+[[Category:University of Minnesota Duluth alumni]]
+[[Category:United States Army Air Forces officers]]
+[[Category:United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II]]
+[[Category:American people of Jewish descent]]
+[[Category:Military personnel from Minnesota]]