Vacuum manufacturing executive Marshall Oreck dies; private burial Sun.
MARSHALL BYRON ORECK, a founding top executive of the Oreck Corporation, the well-known manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and other cleaning equipment, died earlier today, February 26, 2021. He was 92.
MARSHALL BYRON ORECK
With his eldest brother David, Oreck started the Oreck Corporation, building the brand of vacuum cleaners into a household name. The duo worked side by side at Oreck Corp. for five decades, most days sharing lunches together. The Oreck Corporation was a major area manufacturer until 2008, when citing rising fuel prices and the need to centralize, they moved the operation to Nashville Tennessee, where it remains today.
A native of Duluth, MN., Oreck earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award in Scouting and a rare achievement for a Jewish Scout. As a child, he had a love for the outdoors and that love continued into his adulthood as evinced by the time he spent tending to his many plants.
Following graduation from Central High School, Oreck moved to the Twin Cities area to attend college at the University of Minnesota, where he belonged to Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity and graduated with a degree in business.
After college, he moved to New York City in 1952 and thereafter served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War. While in the service, he was given the unique opportunity to be the official photographer for diplomats and took pictures of notable historical figures including Winston Churchill, President Harry Truman, President Dwight Eisenhower and many others.
Following his service, Oreck lived for a time in St. Paul before moving back to New York City to pursue a number of business ventures including running a baseball card company.
Throughout his life he kept himself in excellent physical shape and was always a member of a gym, exercising every day. On weekends he often enjoyed long bike rides rides along the levee and neighborhood walks through Audubon Park.
Oreck’s love for animals was well known. He cared for a number of pets, ranging from a turkey named Tootsie to a cat named Smokey and to a dog named Oscar. He was known to play with the neighborhood dogs in their yards with his wife’s tennis balls. The couple amassed a number of shihtzus, none of which he claimed to want, but were, ironically, sometimes all he wanted to talk about.
His penchant for hijinks and practical jokes was well documented within the family. While generally quiet and reserved, he loved to tell a good story – even if he had to embellish it a bit for the listeners.
A truly compassionate man, he often put others’ needs ahead of his own. One of the words used most to describe him was, and is, kind. He was, above all, a mensch; a spectacular human being who was universally loved. He will be supremely missed.
Oreck is survived by his wife Julie, his brother David Oreck (Jan), his children, James Oreck, Michael Oreck (Sue), Alden Oreck (Tiffany), Zoë Oreck (Hayter) and Sophie Oreck, three grandchildren and one great grandson.
A graveside service for immediate family only will take place at Metairie Cemetery on Sunday February 28, 2021 at 2 p.m. Rabbi Katie Baumann and Emeritus Rabbi David Goldstein will officiate.
Memorials are suggested to Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans or The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana preferred. To attend the service virtually, please go www.tourosynagogue.com where it will be live streamed.
To view and sign the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetaire.com
