Gregory W. Piasecki, a Wynnewood native known for his strong leadership skills and passion for innovation, passed away at the age of 52, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Piasecki, the youngest of seven siblings, was born in Wynnewood, but grew up in Haverford.

He was one of the top officers for his brother Michael’s firm, Dragonfly Pictures, which is based in Essington. The company designs and manufactures unmanned vertical take-off and landing air vehicles.

He also was one of the co-founders of an investment bank in China in the early 2000s, and oversaw his family’s companies, including Piasecki Aircraft Corp., a company his father founded in 1955.

Former colleagues said that he loved to mentor young people and was admired for his “optimism, enthusiasm, and perseverance.”

Piasecki was also known all over the world for his passion for dragon boat racing. He won gold and silver medals as a member of a U.S. men’s team that paddled at the 2013 and 2011 Dragon Boat World Championships.

Learn more about his incredible legacy in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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