Mathias 'Mat' Meinzinger, the breeder and co-owner of top three-year-old One More Laugh, passed away Sunday, October 31 after a 10-month battle with

pancreatic cancer. He was 74.

Meinzinger was president, CEO and founder of longtime bath coordinates and housewares manufacturer Creative Bath Products.

Originally from Hungary, Meinzinger moved to the U.S. in 1956. In 1973, he and his business partner, Guenther Bartsch, opened Creative Bath Products with only $10,000 and two employees. The company is now one of the most successful in the United States home textiles industry.

In his free time, Meinzinger enjoyed breeding and racing horses, and was an avid tennis player.

"Mat lived a remarkable and fulfilling life and will remain an inspiration to all who had the privilege to know him," said Bob Weiss, who was recently named president of Creative Bath Products. "Mat brightened our lives, a man whose goodness, generosity and kindness will stay in our hearts and minds forever. He never, ever took anything for granted and always tried, as he put it, to ‘do the right thing.'"

Meinzinger is survived by his wife of 52 years, Christa; his brother Joseph; sisters Theresa Baumann and Veronica Penka; and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held today at Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Home, 125 Old Country Road, in Hicksville, NY. Viewing hours are from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and again from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 3 at St. Charles Cemetery on Conklin Avenue in Farmingdale, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lustgarden Foundation for the research of Pancreatic Cancer, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Mathias 'Mat' Meinzinger.

(With files from hometextilestoday.com)