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". 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. 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 Staggerwing Beech G-17S, and a Beech T-34A Mentor. Oreck spoke at universities around the U.S., seeking to inspire young entrepreneurs and businesspeople. 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." David Oreck founded Oreck Pure Air Candles in 2009. Personal life and death 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. Oreck died on February 15, 2023, at his home in Mississippi. He was 99. 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. 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. Oreck made significant contributions to the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. Books From Dust to Diamonds, 2013. TAG, Amarillo References External links David Oreck at IMDb 1923 births 2023 deaths People from Duluth, Minnesota Jewish American military personnel American chief executives Home appliance manufacturers of the United States Vacuum cleaner manufacturers University of Minnesota Duluth alumni United States Army Air Forces officers United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II Companies based in Nashville, Tennessee American people of Jewish descent Military personnel from Minnesota