Lives of Consequence
William Corbett Sr. '59
"I don't plan to retire," says William Corbett Sr. '59. While many people are hesitant to leave a decades-long career, Corbett, now 76, intends to hold down not one, but three jobs.
For most of his life, Corbett has been extensively involved in the Floral Park, N.Y., community. His family moved there when he was eight and it has been his home since, although diverse legal and communication careers saw him commuting to New York City and on trips around the world.
His wife of 48 years, Ann, a registered nurse, is the former mayor of Floral Park. Both Corbett and his wife are ordained interfaith minsters, and the two run a law firm and an award-winning New York metropolitan area public relations and social media marketing firm, Corbett Public Relations, Inc. The firm offers a wide array of services including media relations, special-event development and promotion, social media marketing planning and consulting, government and community affairs, marketing support and business development consulting.
In their spare time, they help care for their twin grandchildren who live nearby, and help with the philanthropic efforts of their son Bill, who serves as president and CEO of Corbett Public Relations, Inc.
As active as he is in Floral Park, Corbett has led an adventurous life outside the area, including travel to more than 50 countries. When he was ready for a change of pace, he was ecstatic to settle back into the community and surround himself with family. Among his many passions, Corbett served as vice president of communications for the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants and director of corporate public relations (worldwide) for Avon Products, Inc.
He was also president of the International Public Relations Association and served as a communications adviser for the U.S. Information Agency. Corbett was on the advisory committee of the United Nations Communications Division and was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the U.S. Department of Defense Information School. Along the way, he was assisted in numerous political campaigns.
Corbett earned a B.A. in American history from Hobart College and explains that he "worked very hard as a student," both in the classroom and out, writing for the Herald, editing the ROTC newsletter and serving as business editor for a literary magazine at the time, The Seneca Review. Following graduation, he entered the Air Force, during which time he undertook missions in 19 countries.
Upon his return, he attended Albany Law School but transferred to Fordham University School of Law and earned his J.D. while working on Governor Nelson Rockefeller's national campaign seeking the presidential nomination. He then served as an assistant district attorney, though it was at HWS, Corbett says, that "I learned how to work with people and build relationships."