Community Service Award
The success of our town depends upon helping newcomers. We are all bound by shared beliefs and respect for work. Michael D’Ortenzio Jr.’s grandfather emigrated from Abruzzo, Italy to Rice Street in 1949. He joined the workforce after finishing up at what was then the brand new Wellesley Junior High School on Kingsbury Street. He probably never dreamed about the amazing success of his grandson.
Today we are proud to give his grandson a well-deserved honor. Wellesley Celebrations Committee, a standing committee of the Select Board, Town of Wellesley honors Michael D’Ortenzio Jr. with its Community Service Award.
Michael is lifelong Wellesley resident (Hardy, WMS, and WHS ’11). His father was the class of 1978. Giving back has always been Michael’s DNA. He has said, “Serving the Town has always been a small way of giving back to a community that has given so much to my family.” Michael earned a J.D. from Duke and has been a public servant. A municipal attorney serving as Town Counsel and City Solicitor to cities, towns, and governmental districts of the Commonwealth. Back home, he served on School Committee (’16-’19, served as Chair ’17-’18), Playing Fields Task Force (’16-’19, served as Chair ’18-’19), and Sustainable Energy Committee (’16-’19, served as Vice Chair ’16-’17). Recently he finished serving on the Natural Resources Commission (’22-’26, served as Chair ’24-’25.) The main project was drafting a Land Conservation Plan to proactively conserve land in Wellesley.
Thank you Michael, well done.