Michael Pyszczymuka '71CC Honored by Ivy Football Association
2/3/2023 9:09:00 AM | Football
The Lions’ former All-American lineman was recognized for his contributions on-and-off the gridiron
NEW YORK - Columbia Athletics and the Ivy Football Association honored former offensive lineman Michael Pyszczymuka at its annual dinner on February 2 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Pyszczymuka was recognized for his accomplishments on the field as well as for being a distinguished leader after graduation.
Each year, the IFA celebrates eight graduates of Ivy League institutions at the event. This year's seven other honorees included Kevin Mundt (Brown '76), Lyndon Gross, M.D., Ph.D (Cornell '86), Robert Downey (Dartmouth '58), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Harvard '05), J. Thomas Roland, Jr., M.D. (Penn '79), James Blair, Ph.D (Princeton '61) and John Spagnola (Yale '79). The emcee of the banquet was legendary ESPN personality and Brown alumnus, Chris Berman.
While pursuing a degree in liberal arts from Columbia, Pyszczymuka had a standout career with the Lions. He was a two-time All-America selection at center, a team captain and a first-team All-Ivy League selection in 1970.
Pyszczymuka went on to join the FBI for over 25 years as a special agent, working in counterintelligence, civil rights, Russian organized crime, international terrorism and general criminal and crisis management.
Following his time with the FBI, Pyszcymuka worked for nearly a decade, providing security services to pharmaceutical companies such as Abbott Labs overseas in Germany and the U.K. and back in the United States with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
