Harold L. Bender, Pioneering Editor of Weekly Television Celebrity Magazine and Former Director of National Publicity at NBC, dies at 90.
Harold L. Bender, a charismatic journalist who interviewed scores of celebrities in a weekly magazine published by the Journal American Newspaper and later became the director of National Publicity at NBC, passed away on September 25, 2015. He was 90 years old.
In the 1950s and early 60's Mr. Bender edited a weekly magazine section in the now defunct Hearst newspaper, the Journal American. It was one of the first publications to focus on the stars and celebrities in the young medium of television. Ed Sullivan, Lucille Ball, Doris Day, Alfred Hitchcock and scores of others all agreed to his interviews. Mr. Bender's articles were crisp. His stories provided insight to the thoughts and perspectives of television's pioneers. His easy going manner and friendly disposition was disarming. Celebrities often felt comfortable opening up to him and often would provide candid information about their lives and careers.
Later in the early 1960s Mr. Bender moved to NBC. There he worked to publicize shows with some of the network's biggest talents such as Jack Paar of the Tonight Show and Tom Snyder of Tomorrow. For many years in the 1970s and 1980s Mr. Bender was responsible for the press coverage for the Miss America Pageant, then broadcast on NBC. He became good friends with the show's host, Bert Parks. The two would regularly play a competitive game of tennis during pageant week. After Bert would sing "There she is" Mr. Bender was often the first to meet with the newly crowned beauty queens to prepare them to meet with the plethora of journalists from around the world. He became friends with many Ms. Americas including Phyllis George, Miss America 1971, who was one of his favorites. During his time at NBC he worked with many celebrities, including Gene Kelly and Clint Eastwood, to promote shows on which the stars appeared for NBC.
Harold Leon Bender was born on the lower east side to Jewish, Russian immigrants. He was raised in the Bronx where his father, Louis Bender a kosher Butcher, and his mother, the former Gussie Suslofsky, kept an orthodox home. Drafted into the Army Air Corp in 1943, Mr. Bender served for three years during World War II and trained as an aerial gunner. He was honorable discharged as a corporal in 1946. Harold L. Bender graduated in 1949 from Columbia University in New York City with a degree in humanities. In 1955, he married the former Libby Goldbaum in New Haven, Connecticut. He and his family lived in Old Bridge New Jersey for 39 years prior to moving to Southbury in 1998. At the time of his death, Harold and Libby were married two months shy of 60 years. Mr. Bender is survived by his wife Libby, son Lewis, daughter Eve, daughter-in-law Doris and two granddaughters; Alexandra and Michelle.

Cemetery: Cemetery Not Applicable

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Services: A funeral service will be held promptly at 1 pm Monday at the Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main St. North.

Visitation: The family will receive friends at 12: 30 until the service begins and again after the service ends. Burial will be Tuesday in Temple Beth Sholom Cemetery 25 Alling St, Hamden at 11 a.m. Shiva will be observed on Tuesday evening from 6pm-8pm. At the home of Lewis Bender, 43 Ledgewood Rd., Redding, CT and also on Wednesday and Thursday at Harold's late home, 991 B Heritage Village (991 B Inwood Circle) from 2 pm- 6pm.