Frank Popoff

1935 - 2024

Frank Popoff
Frank Popoff, of Midland, passed away at home Sunday, February 25, 2024. He was 88.
Frank was born in Sofia, Bulgaria on October 27, 1935 to Frank and Stany Popoff. The family, including his sister Joan, emigrated to Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1940. He graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and an MBA 1959. He met his wife, Jean Urse, while at Indiana University; they married in 1958 and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last year.
After graduation, Frank joined The Dow Chemical Company, beginning a career in a variety of marketing and business management positions in both the U.S. and Europe. In his 41-year career, he rose to the role of Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair.
Frank was an internationalist whose management responsibilities included various geographic areas, global operations and manufacturing, as well as global employee relations. He had roles in Dow's Sales and Marketing function before being named General Manager of the Agricultural and Organic Chemicals Department in 1975. He returned to Dow Europe as Vice President of Marketing and Sales the following year. In 1981, he became President of Dow Europe.
In 1985, he returned to the U.S. as Executive Vice President and was elected to the company's Executive Committee. In May 1987, Frank was named President and Chief Operating Officer, and in December of that year was named Chief Executive Officer of The Dow Chemical Company, a role he would continue until 1995. Elected to Dow's Board of Directors in 1982, he also served as Chairman of the Board from 1992-2000. He was elected Director Emeritus in 2000.
During his tenure as CEO, Frank twice received the first-place award for CEO of Excellence from Financial World Magazine. In 1989, the Queen of The Netherlands bestowed on him the title of Knight Commander in the Order Oranje-Nassau. He also received the Leadership Award from the United States Council for International Business in 1992 and the Palladium Medal Award in 1994.
Frank also was globally recognized as a leading proponent of sustainable development. In 1991, he was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the President's Commission on Environmental Quality and was named chairman of the Committee on International Cooperation. He also received the Rene DuBos Environmental Award in 1993 for his contribution toward development significant strategies dealing with the social and humanistic aspects of environmental problems. He was a founding member of The Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Over the course of his professional career, Frank served on the corporate boards of American Express Company, ShinEtsu Chemical Co., Ltd., United Technologies Corporation, and Chemical Financial Corporation. He also was a member of The Business Council, the American Chemical Society, the Council for Competitiveness, the Midland Economic Development Council, and the American Chemical Society. He also served as senior vice chairman of the U.S. Council for International Business and was a director of the Chemical Manufacturers Association.
In addition to his business contributions, he also was a director of the International Committee of the Salk Institute and of The American Institute for Contemporary German Studies. He served on the boards of the Indiana University Foundation and its School of Business Dean's Advisory Council, the University of Michigan's School of Business Visiting Committee, the Michigan Molecular Institute, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Family Foundation, and the MyMichigan Health Foundation.
Frank is survived by his wife, Jean, and their three sons and families: John, Thomas (Cathleen), and Steven (Kristen), and grandchildren Max, Hanna, Mia and Marcus; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, and his sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Larry and Joan Garlington.
Frank cherished time with his family, including the hobbies they shared together throughout his life – skiing at Snowmass Village and boating on Lake Charlevoix. He would joke that as he got older, the boats got smaller, and shifted from sailboats to motorboats. After his retirement, he also took up woodworking in the basement of their home, making personalized toy chests for each grandchild, various types of furniture, and even Adirondack chairs built from the family's old skis, which he gifted to them.
Visitation will take place at Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 W Wheeler St, Midland, MI from 2 to 4 pm and 6-8 pm on Thursday, February 29, 2024. A private family celebration of Frank's life will take place later. Those planning an expression of sympathy may consider the Dow College Opportunity Program at West Midland Family Center, the Frank Popoff Family Skilled Trades Scholarship Fund at the Midland Area Community Foundation, or the donor's choice.
"Vat, we will miss you."
The Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Directors are honored that the Popoff family has entrusted us with the care of their loved one. Condolences to the family may be made at www.wswfh.com