William Myron Savitt
American, 1901 - 1995
BiographyWilliam "Bill" Myron Savitt was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on 9 March 1901. His father was Harry Savitt, a real estate agent and the president of his synagogue. Bill Savitt began working at an early age, and quit school in the tenth grade to work full time; although he never finished school, he received an honorary doctorate from Springfield College in 1980 as a self-made man who had done a great deal to help the disadvantaged. Bill Savitt moved to Hartford, Connecticut in 1917 to open a branch store for a luggage company, but in 1919, he went into business for himself. He opened his first jewelry store on Park Street near Broad Street. His store in Hartford, at 35 Asylum Street, remained open until his retirement in September 1986, and the New Haven store is still open today, in 2001.
Bill Savitt was a well known self-promoter, and his POMG slogan, "Piece of Mind Guaranteed" became a household phrase. He was also a philanthropist, supporting cross-denominational religious charities, disadvantaged children, and many others in need. He and his brother, Max Savitt, ran radio station WCCC from 1947 to 1967, devoting it to Hartford public affairs and enabling charities to broadcast their messages about community events. Bill Savitt was also a great patriot, helping to sell war bonds, supporting soldiers overseas, and always wearing a lapel pin with an American flag on it. He was even a sportsman: Bill Savitt formed the semipro "Savitt Gems" baseball team in the late 1920s, and he owned Bulkeley Stadium in Hartford's south end from 1932-1946. He brought in stars such as Babe Ruth, Dizzy Dean, and Ted Williams to play exhibition games, and he also enabled black players, such as Satchell Paige, to play in Bulkeley Stadium long before Major League Baseball allowed black players onto teams.
Bill Savitt received may awards for his charitable work over the years: the "Mr. Education" award from the Hartford Federation of Teachers; the Jewish War Veterans Citizenship Award; and Outstanding Boss award of Greater Hartford Jaycees to name of few. He was so well loved by the Hartford community that in 1987, Mayor Milner renamed Stubb Street as Savitt Way. When Bill Savitt died in Bloomfield on 14 March 1995, many people in Hartford felt they had lost a legend. Governor O'Neal and Mayor Peters spoke glowingly of him as one of the greatest citizens Hartford had ever had.
Bill Savitt was a well known self-promoter, and his POMG slogan, "Piece of Mind Guaranteed" became a household phrase. He was also a philanthropist, supporting cross-denominational religious charities, disadvantaged children, and many others in need. He and his brother, Max Savitt, ran radio station WCCC from 1947 to 1967, devoting it to Hartford public affairs and enabling charities to broadcast their messages about community events. Bill Savitt was also a great patriot, helping to sell war bonds, supporting soldiers overseas, and always wearing a lapel pin with an American flag on it. He was even a sportsman: Bill Savitt formed the semipro "Savitt Gems" baseball team in the late 1920s, and he owned Bulkeley Stadium in Hartford's south end from 1932-1946. He brought in stars such as Babe Ruth, Dizzy Dean, and Ted Williams to play exhibition games, and he also enabled black players, such as Satchell Paige, to play in Bulkeley Stadium long before Major League Baseball allowed black players onto teams.
Bill Savitt received may awards for his charitable work over the years: the "Mr. Education" award from the Hartford Federation of Teachers; the Jewish War Veterans Citizenship Award; and Outstanding Boss award of Greater Hartford Jaycees to name of few. He was so well loved by the Hartford community that in 1987, Mayor Milner renamed Stubb Street as Savitt Way. When Bill Savitt died in Bloomfield on 14 March 1995, many people in Hartford felt they had lost a legend. Governor O'Neal and Mayor Peters spoke glowingly of him as one of the greatest citizens Hartford had ever had.
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