By Greg Hazley
Joe Cerrell, the well-connected California political and PR consultant who built Los Angeles-based Cerrell Associates, died Dec. 3 following complications from pneumonia. He was 75.
Cerrell with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and John F. Kennedy. |
"His legacy as a counselor, confidant, and close friend to thousands of people in politics, the business community, as well as in the public relations and non-profit arenas, especially the Italian-American community in Los Angeles, will not be forgotten," said Hal Dash, chairman and CEO of Cerrell Associates.
The Democrat is credited with being among the first professional political operatives and was tapped at age 24 to run the California Democratic Party.
Queens-born Cerrell and his wife, Lee, marked their 47th wedding anniversary on Nov. 17. They met while working on former Gov. Pat Brown’s gubernatorial campaign.
The husband-and-wife team founded Cerrell Associates in 1967 working for clients like Pacific Southwest Airlines and Pacific Telephone, in addition to political clients. The firm branched out to D.C. in 1983 when Cerrell teamed with consultant Ben Palumbo to form Palumbo & Cerrell.
Cerrell’s political client list included California work for the presidential campaigns of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Lloyd Bentsen, John Glenn and Al Gore.
He stepped back from leadership duties of CA in 2006 when he placed the firm in control of seven senior principals and he took the title of chairman emeritus while remaining involved in firm affairs.
CA billed $5.2M last year with about two dozen staffers.
Cerrell was honored by PRSA/Los Angeles in 2001 as its Outstanding PR Professional of year.
A memorial service is slated for Dec. 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles. Details are at josephcerrell.com.
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