‘PR King’ Gene Sheehan dies at 78
HBJ PHOTO | Steve Laschever
Gene Sheehan, the former president of Sullivan & LeShane Public Relations.
Well-known communications and public relations pro Gene Sheehan, who joined Hartford-based Sullivan & LeShane Public Relations as a partner in 1988, died Wednesday, according to several of his close friends and former colleagues.
He was 78.
Once referred to as the “PR king” by a Hartford Courant columnist, Sheehan was a prominent communications professional who represented some of the biggest names in Connecticut business, including the former United Technologies Corp., now known as Raytheon Technologies, its subsidiary Pratt & Whitney, Kaman Corp., Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New England, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., St. Francis Hospital, Citicorp and Mirage Resorts, among others.
He left one of Connecticut's largest advertising agencies in 1988 to join Pat Sullivan and Paddi LeShane, who co-founded Sullivan & LeShane Public Relations in 1986.
Sullivan and LeShane are also the co-founders of one of Hartford’s most influential lobbying firms, Sullivan & LeShane Inc.
Sheehan stepped down from overseeing the day-to-day operations of Sullivan & LeShane Public Relations at the end of 2018.
Reflecting on his career, he told the Hartford Business Journal at that time, “The currency of an effective public relations person is and always will be experience and credibility. How have you successfully managed difficult situations? Who knows and trusts you? Who can you call and get that call returned? The bottom line is — as one editor recently said to me — are you respected and can you be relied upon to 'put it out there straight?'”
In 2012, Sheehan penned an op-ed for the HBJ reflecting on the changes in the media and communications industries.
Known for his gregarious personality and infectious laugh, Sheehan was a Hartford Business Journal Lifetime Achievement Award honoree in 2014.
Paddi LeShane issued the following statement Thursday:
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our former partner, Gene. His infectious energy and enthusiasm for every day, every challenge and every project we worked on together are memories we will cherish forever. His laughter, his style, his spark and twinkle in his eye will remain with all who had the pleasure of working and knowing him.
Gene was a mentor to many of the region's top communications professionals, helping them perfect their skills and advance in their careers. He took great pride in the wonderful family he and Sandy raised, and his role as a grandfather surpassed even his significant contributions as President of Sullivan & LeShane Public Relations.
We join the many friends of Gene in extending our love to the Sheehan family and expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the years he spent with the SLPR team."
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