Giving back is a wonderful way to express gratitude for life’s blessings, and Susie and Rich Gordinier have many reasons to be thankful. They have decades of warm memories together, a loving family and great friends, and Rich has achieved remarkable professional success.

Rich was born in New Jersey. Susie was born in Los Angeles but her family moved to the east coast. She and Rich met during their senior year in college. Rich graduated from Princeton University. Susie graduated from Syracuse University. They were
married in 1964. They moved to Baltimore, where Rich worked for Procter and Gamble and Susie was a speech therapist for the Baltimore City School System and also had a weekly speech
program on TV.

While at P&G, Rich was transferred to the Charmin Paper Division and the family moved to Green Bay, WI, Cheboygan, MI, and then Clarks Summit, PA. Charmin introduced Pampers from the Pennsylvania factory that Rich helped open. Their oldest son was born while they were in Pennsylvania.

Clairol recruited Rich in the late 1960s and the family moved to Fairfield, CT, where their second and third children were born. In late 1972, Rich was recruited by Estee Lauder to be Senior VP of Operations. The family moved again to Oyster Bay, Long Island.

In 1978, after a 28-inch snowfall, recruiters convinced Rich and family to move to California, where he became president of the International Division of Max Factor. The family relocated to San Marino, CA. While living there they became very involved in their children’s activities and various charitable groups, and remained there for 32 years. 

After Max Factor, Rich spent a number of years running privately held businesses in consumer goods products.

When he retired, the Gordiniers remodeled their Laguna Beach summer home and moved full-time to Laguna in 2008. He continues to serve on various boards and finds the Providence Mission Hospital Foundation Board, which he joined five years ago, to be the most rewarding. “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the board, medical staff and management of the hospital.” Rich has also delighted in introducing the hospital
to his friends, who in turn have introduced the hospital to their friends — and lists it as one of his proudest accomplishments. Susie has served on the Laguna Art Museum board and was co-chair of the Centennial Celebration committee. She is active in several art groups. As an artist, she has been in many exhibits in Pasadena and Laguna.

Rich hopes to be known as a leader, someone who inspires others to give back. He is especially proud of the legacies he has helped create. “I’m proud to be helping organizations such as the Foundation be in a stronger position today and into the foreseeable future.”

Susie and Rich have three grown children and nine grandchildren. They are thrilled to have their second COVID shot so they can visit their family again!