Meet the Honorees
2021 Honorees selected from among those residents who serve our community with distinction
Distinguished Service Award– Sue Webb , 44 years Retired Animal Control Officer
Chief of Staff & Oldest Veteran–Willard Hunnewell, 100 year old U.S. Navy veteran
Community Service Award– David Chapin, Retired 25 years on Board of Assessors
Community Service Award–David Donohue, Retired 25 years on Board of Public Works
Community Service Award–Marjorie Freiman, Retired 2 term Member of Board of Selectmen
Community Service Award –Sharon Gray, Retired 2 term Member of School Committee
Community Service Award — Matt Kelley, Retired 2 term Member of School Committee
Community Service Award–Regina Larocque, Retired 3 year Member of Natural Resources Commission
Community Service Award–Jack Morgan, Retired 2 term Member of the Board of Selectmen
Community Service Award–Lloyd Tarlin, Jr., Retired 4 term Member of the Board of Health
Community Caring Award– J. Michelle Grignaffini, Kidney Donor and Thomas Kelley, Covid Survivor
Dedicated Service Award–Linda Corridan, Retired 10 year, Head School Nurse
Special Recognition Award — Joyce Downes, 74 year member of the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
Members of the Wellesley community are encouraged to nominate individuals for recognition.
Click here to nominate your Wellesley Community Hero!
Weekly meetings prior to Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend are held by the Wellesley Celebrations Committee to evaluate nominations for distinguished service to our community. The 12-member committee votes on each submission.
Examples of Past Honorees
Pictured here is 2019 Co-Grand Marshal Dick Joyce
PARADE GRAND MARSHAL
The Grand Marshal is the person or group of people selected to be the public leader of events during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend.
The Parade Grand Marshal has the ceremonial duty to lead the annual Veterans parade in Wellesley.
2019 honorees included Michael Pakstis, Co-Grand Marshal
Pictured here is 2019 Chief of Staff Dr. Larry DiBona
CHIEF OF STAFF
The Chief of Staff is the top ceremonial position in the Wellesley parade to honor military service.
The most well-known military use of the term “Chief of Staff” is associated with The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) — the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council on military matters.
The Chief of Staff of the Wellesley parade serves as the principal military and veterans advisor for the Wellesley Celebrations Committee in the performance of activities throughout Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. The honoree is selected from among those Wellesley residents who have served with distinction our Country and our community.
Pictured here is 2019 Community Service Award Honoree Paul Criswell
COMMUNITY SERIVE AWARD
A person or organization selected for their noteworthy service to the community of Wellesley.
2019 honorees also included Michael D’Ortenzio, Jr., Dr. Robert Evans, Andrew Wrobel.
Pictured here is 2019 Distinguished Service Award Honoree Ellen Gibbs
DISTIGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
A person or organization selected for their noteworthy service to the community of Wellesley.
Pictured here is 2019 Dedicated Service Award Honoree Lynne Novogroski
DEDICATED SERVICE AWARD
A person or organization selected for their noteworthy service to the community of Wellesley.
2019 honorees included Debra Healy.
Pictured here is 2016 Special Recognition Award Honoree Henry Platt
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
A person or organization selected for their noteworthy service to the community of Wellesley.
2019 honorees included The American Legion, Babson College, Haskins Automotive, House and Garden Club of Wellesley, St. Andrews Church, Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, Windsor Press.