HarrisCom Principal Dick Pirozzolo, who founded an international public relations firm three decades ago and went on to become a highly credentialed journalist and author, was recently presented with a Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement for 2018.
A brick engraved with Pirozzolo’s name and year of the award will be laid at the Hamden High School courtyard as a permanent reminder of the honor. Over its 17-years, the HEF Award has been presented to a Pulitzer Prize Winner, Nobel Laureate, and a co-chairman of Dow Chemical.
As part of the presentation Hamden Mayor Curt Bolzano Leng said, “Your accomplishments and success are due to your hard work while on your path since high school and this recognition is something you can be proud of.”
As part of the ceremony, Pirozzolo also received a Certificate of Accomplishment from United States Senator Christopher Murphy, and a Certificate of Special Recognition from United States Representative Rosa L. DeLauro.
The citation-to-accompany the award read in part: “after growing up in Hamden and graduating from the University of Connecticut in 1967, Dick entered the U.S. Air Force where he rose to the rank of captain and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service as a press officer in Saigon.
“He credits his Air Force experience as well as Gary Burgard, his English teacher and Hamden High School Class of ’62 Advisor, for gaining the skills needed to launch a successful career as a journalist and public relations professional.
“While in his 30s, Dick founded Pirozzolo Company Public Relations in Boston, serving WBZ-TV (CBS) with performing arts campaigns and the government of Vietnam with U.S. reconciliation and trade initiatives, and Fortune 500 companies including Citibank, United Technologies, Pepsico and Stanley Black & Decker as well as numerous start-up ventures.
“Continuing his involvement with Vietnam, Dick serves on the Editorial Board of Boston Global Forum, a think tank focused on reducing world tensions and fostering business and cultural ties with Vietnam.
“Dick has written and published five nonfiction books on traditional homebuilding and design and in 2017, published his first novel with coauthor Michael Morris—the critically acclaimed, “Escape from Saigon – a Novel” (Skyhorse Publishing, New York) set during April 1975, the final month of the Vietnam War.
“An accredited Public Relations Society of America member, Dick is active in The National Press Club, Washington, DC; The Society of Professional Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi honorary society); and The Foreign Press Association of New York.
“He lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts with his wife Jane and their Golden Retriever Cooper.”
Said Tony Russo, a 1963 graduate and Hamden public schools educator, who took part in the ceremonies, “Hamden High School has an impressive list of alumni, but what touches us most is that nearly all HEF Alumni recipients attribute some of their success to experiences and people who have touched their lives from their years at Hamden High.”
Dick has been a member of the Harris Communications Group since 2013.
The Harris Communications Group is comprised of senior level professionals who join forces to meet clients’ external communications needs. The HarrisCom team includes former national journalists; tech and software engineers; web developers; designers; media relations and crisis communications advisors; corporate and university communications officers; photographers, videographers, and authors. A London partner, SCIAD, handles outreach across the EU and Asia.