Bermuda-based Bacardi Limited announced that George H. Dorion, 91, a longtime company leader and great-grandson of founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó, died April 14 in his Jacksonville home.
“For more than 25 years he dedicated himself to evolving the business by helping us lead the way in environmental responsibility and supporting development of new products that appealed to the trends of the moment,” said Facundo Bacardi, chairman of family-owned Bacardi Limited.
Bacardi Bottling Corp. is based in Jacksonville, where it bottles Bacardi rum-branded products and employs more than 200 people.
Dorion, a chemist, joined the family business in 1969 in Puerto Rico to work at the rum distillery that the company says is the largest premium rum distillery in the world.
After his move to Jacksonville, he helped establish a research and development lab for the company as a center of excellence for testing new products and flavors.
Dorion spent 25 years working at Bacardi in Jacksonville before retiring in 1995.
“His legacy is commemorated at the site which was renamed the George and Dottie Dorion Product Development Center in 2017 in celebration of his and his wife’s 60th wedding celebration,” said a news release.
George and Dottie Dorion have lived in Jacksonville for more than 50 years. Their support includes White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee and the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic in Jacksonville.
The couple also established, through The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, scholarships for dependents of Jacksonville Bacardi Bottling Corp. employees.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy “Dottie” Dorion, three sons and a daughter, and three grandchildren.
Bacardi Limited says it is the largest privately held spirits company in the world. It produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines.
The brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including Bacardi rum, Grey Goose vodka, Patron tequila, Dewar’s Scotch Whisky and more.
It was founded more than 159 years ago in Santiago de Cuba and employs more than 7,000 people, operates production facilities in 11 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries.
His obituary on dignitymemorial.com said he was an internationally respected research leader in photochemistry, polymer systems, anaerobic waste digestion/disposal, fermentation and distillation processes, and product development. He held eight patents, published three books and presented more than 23 professional bulletins and reports ranging from photochromism, graphic arts and data display, permeability, polymers, methane production and anaerobic digestion of distillery, citrus and food waste.
He died two days before turning 92.
Services will be private.