Tribute: Frank Archinaco, Retired PPG Glass Executive

Those who knew Frank Archinaco say the man was a true icon of the glass industry and a family man who was  “one of the good guys.”

Archinaco, 67, was the former president and chief executive officer of PPG’s automotive glass and service business and a senior executive vice president of PPG. Archinaco was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in October 2010. He died Feb. 17, surrounded by family at his home.

“PPG has lost one of its most beloved leaders,” said Charles E. Bunch, PPG chairman and CEO.

Archinaco was born in Elizabeth, NJ, and was the first in his family to attend college, graduating in 1965 with honors from Villanova University. He subsequently earned a master’s of business administration at Seton Hall University and attended Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program, according to PPG company officials.

As a first-generation college graduate, Archinaco soared to the top of his profession, eventually becoming corporate executive vice president at PPG for glass and chemicals. 

“Throughout his career,” Bunch said, “Frank was held in extremely high regard by customers and employees alike for his judgment, integrity, wisdom, and straight-forward management style. He was also an extraordinary communicator with a great wit and sense of humor.”

Archinaco joined PPG in the glass contract and supply department in 1965 as a management trainee in Newark, NJ. He would hold a series of management posts in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico and Illinois.

He became director of marketing and development for PPG’s automotive and aircraft glass business in 1979, general manager of auto replacement glass products in 1981, and general manager of European glass operations in 1984.

Archinaco returned to the United States as vice president of automotive original equipment glass products in 1986. Five years later, he was named vice president of automotive and aircraft glass. He was made vice president of glass in 1994, and a year later was promoted to senior vice president of glass.

In 1997, Archinaco was elected corporate executive vice president for glass and chemicals. He retired from PPG in July 2002.

Nearly six years later, Archinaco rejoined PPG in February 2008 as president and CEO of automotive glass and services business, a position he held until PPG divested the business in September 2008.

Archinaco loved to play golf and played at nearly every Top 100 golf course in the world. His favorites included Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Ballybunion and his home course of. For nearly his entire career in golf, a hole-in-one had eluded him. Then on Oct. 3, 2009, with friends by his side, he scored a hole-in-one with a five iron at Allegheny Country Club's eighth hole.

Almost exactly one year later, Archinaco was diagnosed with terminal metastasized pancreatic cancer. He pledged to his friends and family that he would, despite the incurable nature of his cancer: "fight to my last breath to beat this disease." According to family members, he fought as he promised.

Archinaco was known for his honesty, integrity and straight-forward management style, Buncher said.

“On a personal level, Frank was a good friend and mentor to me, and I will miss him greatly,” Bunch said.

Archinaco is survived by his wife Linda; sons Jason and Christopher; brothers James and Paul; and sister Nancy.

Services and internment at William Slater II Funeral Service in Scott Township, will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his memory to The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.