Dammerman, former NYRA trustee, dies at 67

Dennis Dammerman, a member of the New York Racing Association board of trustees from 2006 to 2012, died on Tuesday at the age of 67, NYRA announced on Wednesday, citing members of his family.

Dammerman, a part-time resident of Saratoga Lake, N.Y., and the former executive officer and vice chairman of General Electric, was elected to the board in 2006, one year after retiring from General Electric after 38 years with the company. He served on NYRA’s audit committee from 2006-2008, the pension committee from 2006-2008, the finance committee from 2006-2012, and the corporate governance committee in 2008, NYRA said.

“Dennis Dammerman served with great distinction as a strong and intelligent voice on the NYRA board of trustees,” said Chris Kay, NYRA’s chief executive officer, who was hired several months ago. “The business world has lost a highly respected figure. NYRA and the Thoroughbred industry have lost a valued leader who loved horses with all his heart.”

Dammerman was one of a number of NYRA board members who were not reappointed following the passage of legislation in 2012 giving state government officials the power to appoint the majority of NYRA’s board. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who had criticized NYRA for mismanagement, supported the legislation.