Peter D. Carlino
By Jonathan Lai, Inquirer Staff Writer
POSTED: December 02, 2013
Peter Domenic Carlino, 92, of Blue Bell, who started Penn National Gaming, died Friday, Nov. 29, at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery of heart disease.
A Philadelphia native, the youngest of nine children, Mr. Carlino attended Our Lady of Pompeii parish school and graduated from Northeast Catholic High School. He took classes at the University of Pennsylvania and St. Joseph’s University, but health issues kept him from earning a degree.
Instead, Mr. Carlino went into business, becoming a florist at shops owned by two of his brothers and later establishing his own shop, the Flower Box, in Ardmore.
Along the way, he caught the eye of Elizabeth Powers, whom he married in 1945. They were together until her death in 1991.
In the 1950s, Mr. Carlino turned to insurance, selling homeowner policies door to door for the Germantown Fire Insurance Co.
Then, continuing his entrepreneurial streak, he formed the Germantown Title Insurance Co., which he merged with Penn Title Insurance Co. after acquiring it in 1969.
He didn’t stop there. Around the same time, he became the first president of the Keystone Racing Association and became a driving force behind the creation of the Keystone Race Track, now Philadelphia Park.
In 1971, he formed the Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, and when the Penn National Race Course opened in 1972, the association began running a racing meet there. He bought Penn National Race Course in 1981, and in 1994 it became the basis of Penn National Gaming.
Penn National Gaming, now run by son Peter M. Carlino, has become the largest regional gaming company and operates across the country.
Mr. Carlino was also involved in other ventures, including forming the Centennial Mortgage Co. and the Centennial Bank.
During Frank Rizzo’s mayoral administration, Mr. Carlino spent two terms chairing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
"So much of his life was about business," said granddaughter Brenna Gilbert. He was involved in multiple small businesses as an angel investor, Gilbert said, as well as in real estate projects:
"He would never have been silent in any deal he was involved in; he was incredibly passionate and engaged . . . he was just a visionary for business," Gilbert said. "He had just an incredible energy and was always present at the start of new businesses and the start of new things."
Mr. Carlino was also involved with the Cedarbrook Country Club, where he spent more than a decade as president.
Devoutly Catholic, Mr. Carlino supported Gwynedd Mercy College (now university) and spent a lot of time working with the church.
"He’s been extensive in his work with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in helping develop different churches, develop different projects . . . scholarships for Catholic universities," Gilbert said.
As word spread of Mr. Carlino’s death, Gilbert said, three bishops, a cardinal, two monsignors, and at least one local priest offered to officiate at the Funeral Mass.
Gilbert remembered him as "a great entrepreneur, an incredibly generous and devout man, and also a great family man."
In addition to his granddaughter and son Peter, Mr. Carlino is survived by sons Richard, David, Robert, and Stephen; daughters Anne, Rosina, and Susan Harrington; 19 other grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul at 1723 Race St. in Philadelphia. A viewing precedes it, beginning at 9 a.m. Interment is private.
The family has asked that contributions be made to the Abbey of Regina Laudis, 273 Flanders Rd., Bethlehem, Conn. 06751.
Original story http://articles.philly.com/2013-12-02/news/44622780_1_philadelphia-park-peter-m-mountainview-thoroughbred-racing-association
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