Herbert S. Denenberg (November 20, 1929 – March 18, 2010) was an American television journalist, lawyer, consumer advocate, and insurance regulator. He is best remembered by audiences in thePhiladelphia television market as a long time consumer affairs reporter onWCAU (Channel 10).[1]
Born into aJewish family inOmaha, Nebraska, the son of aRussian-born father and aRomanian-born mother, Denenberg's father died of a heart attack when he was twelve, leaving him to help raise his seven siblings. He had an extensive educations, earning hisB.S. atJohns Hopkins University,J.D. atCreighton University School of Law,LL.M. atHarvard Law School, andPh.D at theUniversity of Pennsylvania. He was both aChartered Property Casualty Underwriter and aChartered Life Underwriter. He served three years in theJudge Advocate General's Corps, United States Army as a first lieutenant and as a captain in thereserve.[1]
In his academic career, Denenberg was an assistant professor of insurance at theUniversity of Iowa, professor of law atTemple University, adjunct professor atCabrini College, and Loman Professor at theWharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He sat on the board of theConsumers Union, publishers ofConsumer Reports, and was a consultant and counsel to numerous agencies of the federal government as well as state and local governments. He co-authored the firstno-fault insurance law in the United States, passed inPuerto Rico, and was involved in revising insurance laws inNevada andAlaska.[1] In 1971, he was appointed Commissioner of thePennsylvania Department of Insurance in the cabinet of GovernorMilton Shapp. In1974, he ran for theDemocratic Party nomination forUnited States Senate, but lost toMayor of PittsburghPeter Flaherty by less than four points; Flaherty, in turn, lost to incumbentRepublicanRichard Schweiker.[2] The next year, Denenberg was appointed to the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, but left government soon afterwards.[3]
Soon afterwards, Denenberg began what would be a 24-year long career as a consumer and investigative reporter at Philadelphia'sWCAU Channel 10 News. One of his segments was called "Denenberg's Dump" in which he would review products he deemed to be unsafe. He also exposed unsanitary practices by street vendors selling pretzels and hot dogs. During his career, through its time as both aCBS andNBC affiliate, he won 21Emmy Awards. Aside from television, Denenberg also was a columnist for thePhiladelphia Evening Bulletin.[1][3]
Denenberg died after suffering a heart attack at his home inWayne, Pennsylvania on March 18, 2010. He was survived by his wife, Naomi.[3] The same year, theBroadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia posthumously inducted Denenberg into their Hall of Fame.[4]