West Michigan philanthropist and entrepreneur Peter Secchia died on Wednesday at his home. He was 83. Secchia had recently contracted COVID-19.
Secchia was a heavy weight fundraiser for numerous Republican Party candidates over decades. He once served as the vice chair of the Republican-National-Committee.
Secchia was close to the late President Gerald R. Ford. Later, President George H. W. Bush named him as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy.
Secchia was a Michigan State University graduate. The headquarters for M.S.U.’s College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids is named after him.
A family spokeswoman says Secchia had been experiencing health issues for months. She says COVID-19 was a contributing factor in his death.