In Memoriam: Paul C. Puzzo, former President and CEO of CRT

It is with deep sadness that CRT must share the passing of our former President and CEO Paul C. Puzzo.

Paul’s work at CRT began in 1964, where he started as a field worker in the community services division. During his lengthy career with CRT, Paul assumed increasing responsibilities for the agency in a variety of program and administrative positions. He was appointed President and CEO in 1983, and served in that role until he retired in 2005.

Paul was the driving force behind a capital fund drive that led to the construction of CRT’s headquarters at 555 Windsor Street in Hartford, in the heart of north Hartford’s Enterprise Zone. The 60,000 square foot facility, which opened in 1991, includes a state of the art food production kitchen for our Elderly Nutrition Program (including Meals on Wheels), along with administrative offices for the state’s largest community action agency.

He instituted fiscal management practices that produced an unbroken record of unqualified, “clean” opinions of CRT’s fiscal soundness from independent auditors.

During his 40 year tenure with CRT, he saw the agency grow from a budget of a mere $75,000 into a $50 million organization that positively impacts the lives of thousands of people throughout Central Connecticut each and every day.

In his final letter for the 2004 CRT annual report, Paul wrote:
“I believe the future is bright for CRT. My final message to the Agency is, ‘Be bold, be innovative and be creative. Do not fear change, but embrace it, for the best is yet to come.’”

His obituary is available on the Hartford Courant website.

RIP, Paul Puzzo.