Mitchell Kozikowski

Mitchell Kozikowski, 89, of Rostraver Township, passed peacefully July 2, 2025. He is the son of Zygmunt & Anna (Swierzynska) Kozikowski.

He leaves behind his wife of 49 happy years, Cheryl Lynn Inscho Kozikowski; sons,Timothy Kozikowski, Kenneth Kozikowski [deceased], and Leigh A. Walling; daughter Rosemary (Walling) & Marko Hayda; granddaughters Lindsay (Kozikowski) & Steven Welch, Meredith (Kozikowski) & Jacob Lucarelli, and Jasmine M. Matulewicz; great-granddaughter, Teagan Welch; and great-grandson, Cohen Lucarelli.

Mitchell “Mitch” Kozikowski was a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband, leaving behind a life filled with purpose, principle, and lasting impact. He was a distinguished leader in public relations and strategic communications, creating a legacy that helped shape the evolution of modern public relations. A proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Engineering in 1957, Mitch brought systems thinking, strategic insight, and humanity to every role he held across his decades-long career.

Mitch’s influence extended far beyond campaigns or press releases—he was among the early voices to champion the integration of public relations with broader marketing and business functions. Long before “Integrated Marketing Communications” became a buzzword, Mitch recognized that communication disciplines must work in concert. His leadership at firms like Creamer Dickson Basford and The Rowland Company (Saatchi & Saatchi), and later through his own consultancy, Kozikowski & Co., helped some of the world’s most recognized brands align strategy, messaging, and market understanding.

He believed that PR professionals should be at the table not just to execute but to lead. A 1994 industry study he directed found overwhelming support for the idea that PR should drive interdisciplinary collaboration. Mitch saw clearly what many would come to learn—that reputation, relationships, and responsiveness were not side channels, but central to organizational success.

A three-time recipient of the prestigious Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America, Mitch brought deep expertise and ethical conviction to his work. He advised clients across sectors, including healthcare, food and beverage, technology, and finance, guiding them with a steady hand through both opportunity and adversity.

Later in his career, Mitch returned to his roots in higher education, serving in senior communications roles at the University of Pittsburgh and California University of Pennsylvania. He mentored a generation of communicators and remained an advocate for thoughtful, transparent, and values-driven engagement.

Mitch Kozikowski’s legacy is not only measured by the accolades he received or the clients he served, but by the clarity he brought to complex challenges, the collaborative spirit he nurtured, and the lives and institutions made better through his guidance. He was a strategist, a teacher, and a gentleman in the truest sense—a professional who saw communication not simply as a tool, but as a force for connection, leadership, and change.

He will be deeply missed by colleagues, clients, students, and friends—but his impact will endure.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the James C. Stump Funeral Home Inc., 580 Circle Drive, Rostraver Township (724-929-7934) www.jamesstumpfuneralhome.com 

The family asks that, instead of flowers, memorial donations be made to: Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA, EAWCP, Cardello Building 1501 Reedsdale St. Suite 3002 Pittsburgh, PA 15223 https://www.eawcp.org/