Paul Giorgio, former publisher of Pulse Magazine and a longtime figure in Worcester’s business and political scenes, passed away at the age of 75 on Saturday.
Giorgio was the founder of Pagio Inc., the Worcester-based company behind the entertainment- and nightlife-focused Pulse and Central Mass Pride, a LGBTQ-focused publication. Both publications were sold to Worcester-based Merit House Media in May, a new firm founded by Beverly-based Rucker Investments.
“I was fortunate to know Paul as a friend and to work alongside him for many years. Paul was a dear friend in the truest sense of the word,” Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty wrote in a Sunday post on Facebook about Giorgio’s passing. “He was fiercely loyal, steadfast, and always there when it mattered. His was the kind of loyalty you never had to question, and his friendship was a gift I deeply valued and will always be grateful for.”
Prior to owning Pulse, Giorgio played a role as president of Worcester Publishing, the former parent company of Worcester Business Journal and Worcester Magazine.
In 1989, as the city’s former business-focused publication Business Worcester was going defunct, he encouraged former Worcester Publishing owner Allen Fletcher to recruit Business Worcester’s staff to launch WBJ.
Worcester Publishing sold WBJ and its sister publications Hartford Business Journal and MaineBiz in 2007 to Peter Stanton and Joe Zwiebel, who formed New England Business Media as the publication’s new parent firm. NEBM is now owned by Tom Curtin, who became involved with the company in 2020 before becoming sole owner at the end of January.
In addition to his long career as a publisher, Giorgio also served as a member of the board for the Worcester Business Development Corp. and played a role in founding the Shrewsbury Street Merchants Association, according to his obituary. In the political realm, he was involved as a campaigner for the Democratic Party, taking part in the planning for the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton.
Giorgio is survived by Bernard Whitmore, his partner of 48 years.
A gathering in memory of Giorgio is planned for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday at Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel in Worcester, with a celebration of life service planned for 10 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in Giorgio’s memory are requested to be made to the Central Mass Housing Alliance.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries.
