Women Executives in Public Relations: Public Relations Industry to Hold Memorial Service On May 17 for Denny Griswold, 'Powerhouse P.R. Practitioner for P.R.'.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2001

Denny Griswold Sullivan, one of the most dynamic advocates for public relations, will be remembered by the industry that she nurtured for nearly 60 years at a memorial service on Thursday, May 17, at 5 pm at the Penn Club, 30 West 44th St., New York City.

Known professionally as Denny Griswold, she was founder and publisher of "PR News," the first newsletter to report on key developments in the public relations field. The case histories in each issue publicized the value of strategic counseling and PR techniques in influencing the attitudes and actions of American consumers, business, and government leaders. The annual awards program presented by PR NEWS attracted executives from the top echelon of the private and public sectors, enhancing the prestige of the profession in the U.S. and overseas.

Harold Burson, co-chairman of the Memorial Committee with Elinor Guggenheimer, recalled the many titles bestowed on Denny. "She was hailed as the 'First Lady of PR,' its 'Grand Dame,'" he said, "but I think The New York Times' description of Denny was the most accurate. In a headline it called her the 'Powerhouse P.R. Practitioner for P.R.' Those of us in public relations owe a lot to Denny," Burson said. "She was as much a critic as a proponent of what we do. Unafraid to condemn shoddy work, she was quick to celebrate those PR programs that produced positive social change."

"Those of us in public relations owe a lot to Denny," Burston said. "She was as much a critic as proponent of what we do. Unafraid to condemn shoddy work, she was quick to celebrate those PR programs that produced positive social change."

Members of the Foundation of Women Executives in Public Relations and its parent, WEPR, which Griswold helped found 55 years ago, had tried unsuccessfully to contact her at the Wilton Meadows Health Care Center, Wilton, Connecticut, where she had been a patient since August, 1995. They learned of her death only after it was reported by journalist Jack O'Dwyer, who tried to call her in March of this year to wish her a happy 93rd birthday and was that she had died on Feb. 8, 2001.

Elinor Guggenheimer, who knew and admired Griswold as a public relations pioneer, was alarmed by O'Dwyer's reports that while living at the Wilton Meadows Center, Griswold was largely isolated from the outside world during the mid-1990's. "Seniors do not surrender their rights as citizens when they enter health care facilities and it is the responsibility of all of us to see that their rights to receive visitors, mail and phone calls are protected."

When the State of Connecticut's ombudsman visited Griswold at Wilton Meadows in May, 1996, she found her in restraints and asking why no one was writing, calling, or coming to visit her. The lawyer for the Wilton Meadows facility told O'Dwyer that in isolating her in that manner, the nursing staff had misunderstood "the effect of the power of attorney" held by a Griswold niece, Susan Garrett, and were following Garrett's orders. Although those restrictions were lifted after July, 1996, WEPR members and others still failed in repeated attempts to reach Griswold.

Members of the Memorial Committee include: Shirley Alexander, Newsletter & Electronic Publishers Assn.; Len Daniels; Ray Gaulke; Joyce Hergenhan, PR Seminar; Howard Hudson, founder, New York Newsletter Assn., Lisa Kovitz, President, Women Executives in Public Relations; Norma A. Lee; Kathy Lewton, chair, Public Relations Association of America; Terry Mayer; Wes Pedersen; Betsy Plank; Deborah Radman, President, Foundation of WEPR; Art Stevens; Bob Stone; and Bob Weintraub, chair, PRSA/New York.