Oscar Victor, past president of Vic
Manufacturing Co., died November 25 in Minneapolis MN.
Mr. Victor had a long and distinguished
career both in and outside the drycleaning industry.
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He served as the president of
Vic from his father’s death in 1956 until its sale
in 1988.
He led the company through difficult
times, managing the transition from petroleum-based solvents
to carbon tetrachloride to Valclene and finally perc.
The company also navigated the transition
from transfer machines to closed-loop
refrigerated machines even while other competitors exited
the drycleaning field. He and his brother Irving designed and
marketed machines in cooperation with Dow Chemical to use
a freon-based solvent known as Valclene.
Eventually Vic exported American-made
machinery around the world and had many licensees
manufacturing in Asia and Europe. Vic machines were the only
equipment capable of drycleaning the Apollo astronauts space
suits upon their return to earth in preparation for their
display at the Smithsonian Institute.
During the polyester slowdown in the
early 1970s that almost made drycleaning an industry of the
past, Mr. Victor expanded on the mileage booster technology
used in drycleaning to create a new division capable of
producing air pollution abatement equipment for large printing
plants and semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
He served as a member of the board of
directors for TCATA between 1964 and 1970 and was a teacher and
mentor both in business and life to his nephew, Barry Victor,
who continued the family interest in the drycleaning
industry by starting PROS.
“I remember Oscar always
had memorable sayings he often attributed to his father
that he would bring up when important decisions were being
made,” Barry Victor recalled.
“One such saying was
“Don’t throw out the dirty bath water until you
have clean bath water to replace it.”
He will be remembered by his friends in
the industry as a “mensch,” Victor added.
“A man of high intelligence, a wonderful sense of
humor and integrity. Oscar was a generous, fun-loving man
devoted to family and community.“
All of his interests involved
sharing and giving. He used his business and executive skills
as a volunteer for SCORE (Senior Corp of Retired Executives).
He was also an award-winning photographer
who often shared his work.
In the early 1960s, he engaged in rescue
efforts and was a volunteer water patrol sheriff on Lake
Minnetonka.
In 1965, he received his private pilot
license and thereafter enjoyed flying with friends, family and
co-workers to nearby towns to have lunch or visit a customer.
As a private pilot, he realized that his time in the air could
be used for helping others.
He joined AirLifeLine, a
national organization of volunteer pilots who helped
provide access to healthcare for thousands of critically ill
patients and their families by offering free air transportation
to people in need. He set up the Minnesota chapter of
AirLifeline and served as the first pilot for the region.
Eventually, the program expanded throughout the Upper Midwest.
He served as a volunteer pilot, regional
coordinator and board member and it is estimated that he
contributed over 30,000 hours to the organization in his 22
years of service.
He made the original contact with the
chairman of Northwest Airlines for free transportation of
patients when they were not able to fly on small planes due to
weather.
In 2003 he was selected from over 200
nominees to receive an award given by a Minneapolis
Television Station, “Eleven Who Care” for his
work with AirLifeLine.
Mr. Victor loved being on the cutting
edge of technology, as demonstrated by his personal film work
being scored with music and color long before such tools were
available to the general public.
He also served the Jewish
community in Minneapolis in many ways, including as
president of Beth El Synagogue.
He was a husband and soul mate for 64
years to Ann; a father to Bonnie and Steve Heller, Barbara
Victor and Brad Matushak; a brother to Irving and Teresa
Victor; a grandfather to Naomi and Brian Kahn, Jamon and
Rebecca Heller, Alison Broms and Noah Heller; and a
great-grandfather to Ethan and Gabriel Kahn and Dalia Heller.
Funeral services were held at Beth
El Synagogue in St. Louis Park MN.
Contributions may be made to Ann and
Oscar Victor USY Fund at Beth El Synagogue, 5224 W 26th Street,
St. Louis Park MN, 55416-1997, or to a charity of the
donor’s choice.