Robert Fiondella '68 J.D.

Distinguished Alumni Award 2009

Phoenix Companies, Inc.
Chairman, Retired

Nominated By: Frank Milone

After graduating from UConn's School of Law in 1968, Robert joined the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company, where he advanced through several promotions in the law departments and was elected president of Phoenix Mutual and appointed a director of the company in 1987. When Phoenix Mutual merged to become Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company in 1992 he was elected president and principal operating officer, and two years later he was elected chairman, president and chief executive officer – positions he held until 2001. He retired as chairman of the Board in 2003 and is currently Founding Principal of JEROB Enterprises, LLC and Chairman of The Institute for Retirement Security.

Robert is also committed to the betterment of his community. He was a driving force leading to Adriaen’s Landing, an Honorary Chairman of the Canon GHO Golf Tournament, and Chairman of the successful effort to build the Eastern Regional Little League Center in his hometown of Bristol. He is very active with various activities at the University of Connecticut and was instrumental in Connecticut Public Television broadcasting the UConn Women Husky basketball games. Robert chaired the 2000 Greater Hartford Heart Walk for the American Heart Association, and received the 2003 Urban League of Greater Hartford Black History Merit award.

"Bob represents everything this award is about: his ability to be elected the CEO of Phoenix 25 years after starting in the company's law department, his dedication to the Hartford community highlighted by being the driving force leading to Adriaen's Landing, and his dedication to the University of Connecticut shown through his instrumental role in getting the UConn Women Husky basketball games televised on Connecticut Public Television. Bob has truly distinguished himself as a University of Connecticut alum that deserves to be recognized." – Frank Milone '92