Barbara Hunter, public relations pioneer and founder of New York-based agency HUNTER, passed away on December 18 at the age of 97.
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| Barbara Hunter |
Born in 1927 in Westport, NY, Hunter started her career at Sally Dickson Associates, one of New York City’s first women-founded firms. She later joined PR firm Dudley-Anderson-Yutzy (D-A-Y). Hunter and sister Jean Schoonover eventually acquired the firm in 1969, becoming the first women to buy, own and lead a major national public relations agency.
In 1983, Hunter and Schoonover sold D-A-Y to Ogilvy & Mather, naming Hunter vice chairwoman of its PR practice. At the time of the firm’s acquisition, D-A-Y was considered the world’s oldest continually operating public relations firm.
At the age of 62, Hunter founded her eponymous agency, She retired in 1999 at the age of 72 and sold the agency to a group led by CEO Grace Leong.
Donations and tributes in Mrs. Hunter’s name can be made to the PRSA Foundation or the Museum of Public Relations.
Joe Boyd, co-founder and CEO of MCS Healthcare Public Relations, died on December 24 at age 71.
Bob Marston, who built Robert Marston And Associates and Marston Strategic Communications, died July 14 of respiratory failure. He was 86.
Alex Stanton, a veteran corporate, financial and marketing PR executive, died on July 9. He was 70.
Kevin Foley, founder/chairman of KEF Media and a long-time contributor to odwyerpr.com, died June 6 after a brief illness. He was 70.
Hugh Braithwaite, founder of Braithwaite Communications in Philadelphia, died Feb. 28. He was 63.
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