Frank Mandeljc, the founder of Trent Valley Honda in Peterborough, passed away on Monday (March 19) at the age of 72.
Born in 1945 in Gorje, Slovenia, Mandeljc immigrated to Canada when he was 18 years old. An auto mechanic, he opened Trent Valley Auto on Water Street in 1975 with five staff.
In 1978, he moved the dealership to its current location at 851 Highway 7 East.
Mandeljc, who was called “The Chief” by his employees, handed over management of the business in 1995 to his daughter Monika Carmichael.
Carmichael became the dealer principal in 2005, one of only 10 female Honda dealership owners in Canada (she is an inductee into the 2018 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame).
Trent Valley Honda now employs more than 50 people and had more than $35 million in sales last year.
A visitation will held at Ashburnham Funeral Home (840 Armour Rd., Peterborough) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24th, with a service at 1 p.m. and an internment at Lakefield Cemetery at 2 p.m. A reception will follow at Ashburnham Funeral Home from 3 to 5 p.m.
Trent Valley Honda will be closed Saturday, March 24th, to honour its founder.
The family has requested donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
