A fellow director of the group said Quadracci had "aged 10 years since the day of the fire", according to local press reports.
A Quad/Graphics statement said everyone at the group was "deeply saddened" by his death.
He built Quad/Graphics from humble beginnings into the largest privately owned printing group in North America, with over 15 sites across three continents and sales of £1.15bn ($1.8bn).
The group has printed, among others, Newsweek, Playboy and Time, but Quadracci was equally well known for his progressive approach to adopting new technology. As well as offering traditional print services, Quad/Graphics’ other arms include press control systems from QTI, delivery (ParcelDirect), software development (Impoze Systems), photography (Quad/Photo) and design (QuadCreative).
He was honoured with the Web Offset Association’s inaugural Vision Award in May 1999, and later that month was named as the Direct Marketer of the Year by the Wisconsin Direct Marketing Association.
Quadracci’s philanthropic streak was legendary and among his major donations was a £6.4m gift in 1997 to fund a major overhaul of the Milwaukee Art Museum.
He is survived by wife Betty and four children. His brother Tom, an executive vice president of Quad/Graphics and president of QTI, is tipped as his successor.
Story by Gordon Carson
