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64 Hartford Business Journal • November 26, 2012 www.HartfordBusiness.com Celebrating 20 Years of Business News MeMoriuM In years in Connecticut, he was a newspaper reporter, editor, and colum- nist for several publications including the Hartford Courant, Hartford Business Journal, Banker & Tradesman (Boston), and Republican- American (Waterbury)." Cohen also worked outside of journalism. He was a speechwriter and worked in public relations at the Hartford Insurance Group and United Technologies. He was an adjunct instructor for 33 years in Connecticut, including at the University of Hartford, UConn, Central Connecticut State University, and Albertus Magnus College. At the time of his death, Cohen was president of the National Soci- ety of Newspaper Columnists at his death. Past awards and honors include: president of Public Relations Society of America (Central Connecticut); president of Connecticut Society of Professional Jour- nalists; board member: Mark Twain House (Hartford), American Red Cross (Hartford), and Community Solutions, Inc. (Windsor). donAld w. dAvIs 1921 to 2010 In a N.Y. Times obituary, Donald D. Davis, was remember for transforming Stanley Works from "a tradition-bound New England tool manufacturer into an international pioneer in the do-it-yourself hardware business." Davis died from lymphoma, a form of cancer he had been successfully treated for 30 years earlier. At the relatively young age of 44, Davis became president and CEO of Stanley Works after already having worked for the company for 18 years. During his time at the top, he added product lines, overhauled its marketing operations (and even wrote its well-known slogan "Stan- ley Helps You Do Things Right), bough 25 other tool manufacturers and listed the company on the New York Stock Exchange, according to the N.Y. Times obituary. Davis was instrumental in keeping the company headquartered in New Britain when others wanted to see it relocated. He retired in 1987. John h. FIler 1924 to 1994 John H. Filer was a man renowned as both a leading corporate citizen and philanthropist at the time of his death in September 1994. He was chairman of the insurance company from 1972 to 1984 at a time of immense growth for Aetna. According to his obituary in the New York Times, revenue more than tripled during his tenure from $11 billion in assets in $40 billion and grew to become the nation's largest shareholder-owned insurance company. Filer helped change the face of downtown Hartford significantly. Together with the city, Aetna developed the Hartford Civic Center in 1975. The insurance giant was also a lead investor in the World Hockey Association's New England Whalers when they moved here from Boston in 1974. (The team would eventually become the Hart- ford Whalers in 1979 when the WHA and NHL merged.) Filer, who served on national commissions for presidents Ford and Carter, was chairman of the National Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Need, a group of public officials and business executives concerned about the future of philanthropy. BernArd "BernIe" Fox 1942 to 2001 Bernie Fox was retire as chairman of Northeast Utilities when lung cancer ended his life in November 2001 at the age of 59. Fox was named president and chief operating and financial officer of the utility in 1987. Fox began his 32-year career with Northeast Utilities as a cadet engineer at Hartford Electric Light Company. He became vice presi- dent and general manager of the gas division in 1981 and was pro- moted to chief financial officer in 1983. He added the title of CEO in 1993.He became chairman in 1995, and resigned two years later when he turned 55 and became eligible for retirement. Fox served on the boards of directors of Hartford Hospital and the Connecticut Business Industry Association.He also served on the boards of directors of Dexter Corporation, CIGNA Corporation and the Edison Electric Institute.He was a member of the Mount Holyoke College board of trustees and the Management Executive Society. mIlton gIlmAn 1918 to 2010 Milton Gilman was the co-founder of the Ames Department Store chain along with his brother Irving in 1958 in the former Ames Wor- sted Textile Co. mill in Southbridge, Mass. In the 22 years he was involved with the company, the two brothers (later joined by a third) grew the business to scores of stores around the Northeast through organic growth and acquisition of other chains. Five years after open- ing, Ames was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1963. Gilman retired for health reasons in 1980, long before the chain would founder and eventually close forever in 2002. According to his obituary in the Boston Globe, Gilman's retailing influence spread beyond the Northeast. "Gilman, and especially Herb, were friends of Sam Walton. Walton came to get advice from the Gil- mans for his new chain of stores called Walmart," the obituary said. hArry grAy 1919 to 2009 Harry Gray built a Connecticut aircraft company into United Technologies Corp.—- one of the world's richest conglomerates. His corporate and philanthropic fingerprints can be seen all over Greater Hartford. Gray, who became president of what was then United Aircraft Corp. in 1971, served as chairman and CEO from 1972 to 1986. Hart- ford-based UTC, which is the parent of jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, Otis elevator, Sikorsky Aircraft and other businesses, credits Gray for leading it from a $2 billion defense company to a $17 billion diversified conglomerate. In retirement, Gray and his wife Helen contributed to organiza- tions such as Hartford Hospital, University of Hartford, University of Connecticut, University of Illinois, Mark Twain House in Hartford and other organizations. According to Stephen Miller's remembrance article published in the Wall Street Journal on July 10, 2009 (two days after Gray died), he was "a merger artist who resented making just one deal at a time." Gray was both admired and feared as "The Grand Acquisitor." hArvey KAgAn 1938 to 1995 Simply put, if you needed an ambulance in Greater Hartford from the 1970s through the 1990s, odds are it was one of Harvey Kagan's. Kagan had a monopoly on ambulance service, both emergency and non-emergency, for years in the Capital region. At the time of his death, Kagan was president and CEO of Pro- fessional Ambulance Service, Inc., L & M Ambulance Corp., Trinity Ambulance Service, Maple Hill Ambulance Service, Professional Wheel Chair Transportation, Professional Limosine Service, Profes- sional Medical Livery Service, L & M Wheel Chair Transportation, and Trinity Wheel Chair Transportation. As a 1994 profile of Kagan in the Hartford Courant observed, "Har- vey Kagan is a survivor. He overcame a boyhood car accident that crushed his legs, pulled through labor disputes and lawsuits and has battled chronic health problems. [He eventually died from complica- tions related to kidney disease.] Along the way, he's built a multimil- lion dollar ambulance empire." The Wall Street Journal described Harry Gray, the driving force behind United Technologies, as ' a merger artist who resented making just one deal at a time.' Harry and Helen Gray received a standing ovation from guests at a benefit dinner celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Cener at Hartford Hospital in 2000.