Dr. Mazzuchi

NEGAUNEE — Dr. Daniel S. Mazzuchi has been named as the recipient of the Carl V. Pellonpaa Lifetime Achievement Award because of his dedication to the community and serving the health care needs of the area, according to a press release from WLUC-TV6 and FOX UP.

This is the second year TV6 and FOX UP is presenting the Carl V. Pellonpaa Lifetime Achievement Award.

The annual award was created to recognize one individual from across Upper Michigan who has dedicated a life of service to their individual business or industry and the community, much like Carl Pellonpaa did. Don Ryan was the first recipient of the award in 2019. TV6 and FOX UP will honor Dr. Mazzuchi with the Award in late March.

“Selecting our recipient for 2020 was easy. Dr. Mazzuchi has dedicated his life to his career and his community. Even after his retirement he continues to volunteer and champion new causes. He is a worthy recipient of the 2020 Carl V. Pellonpaa Lifetime Achievement Award. TV6 and FOX UP are proud to honor Dr. Mazzuchi and we think Carl would be proud as well,” said TV6 and FOX UP Vice President and General Manager Rick Rhoades in the press release.

Mazzuchi received a bachelor of science in biology from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, graduating in 1961. He went on to receive his M.D. from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., in 1965. His postgraduate training included a mixed medicine internship from 1965-66 and an internal medicine residency from 1966-68, both at D.C. General Hospital, Washington, D.C.

In addition Dr. Mazzuchi was awarded a nephrology fellowship at George Washington University from 1968-69. Upon completion he joined the U.S. Navy as a staff internist at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida from 1969-71.

In May 1973, Dr. Mazzuchi entered private practice for internal medicine and nephrology in Marquette.

His long and distinguished medical career is highlighted with numerous achievements including serving as Chief of Staff at Marquette General Hospital where he established the hospital’s first full-time emergency department. He helped launch the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program.

Mazzuchi was also instrumental in developing the U.P. community campus for the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, being named associate dean of the program and CEO of the Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation. Each year four students from the program receive scholarships named for Dr. Mazzuchi, who retired in 2000.

Throughout his life, Dr. Mazzuchi has been very involved in numerous aspects of the community. He is a respected leader whose community activities includes: mayor, City of Marquette; president, Marquette Area Chamber of Commerce; president, Economic Club of Marquette County; vice president, Marquette EDC; board of directors, Wildcat Club of NMU; and member, NMU Pre-Medical Advisory Board, just to name a few.

After his retirement Dr. Mazzuchi began volunteering with Lake Superior Hospice. For 20 years his volunteer experience became a deeply felt commitment that led to the planning for Trillium House. The residential hospice home opened in 2018 and provides 24/7 care for area hospice patients.

Dr. Mazzuchi was a driving force behind Trillium House becoming a reality and was the board’s first president.

Mazzuchi’s distinguished career and service has brought him recognition including: MGH Foundation Founders in Medicine Award (2010); Rotary Club Community Citizen Award (2017); Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letter and Commencement Speaker from Northern Michigan University (2010); Outstanding Volunteer Leadership Lake Superior Hospice (2012); and Community Foundation of Marquette County Catalyst Award (2018) just to name a few.

According to the release, WLUC established the Carl V. Pellonpaa Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 in honor of the late Carl Pellonpaa. The award is presented annually to one individual in recognition of their service to the Upper Peninsula over the course of a lifetime. It will honor their distinction in various business, volunteer, government, academic, artistic, and social fields. The award will acknowledge significant contributions to the advancement and development of Upper Michigan.

“With the creation of this award we are paying tribute to the memory of a broadcast legend, Carl Pellonpaa,” Rhoades said. “Carl was all about serving the Upper Peninsula, and everything he did throughout his career and in his personal life was to achieve that goal.

“Our intention is to remember him every year by recognizing an individual who has similarly dedicated a lifetime of service to Upper Michigan.”