nominate someonefor citizen of the year
Nominations Open for 2022 City of Stamford Citizen of the Year
STAMFORD, Conn.— Mayor Caroline Simmons is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for 2022’s City of Stamford Citizen of the Year (COTY).
“This award gives Stamford the opportunity to reflect on the people who have made extraordinary contributions to the community we love,” said Mayor Caroline Simmons.
The COTY award is given annually to a resident who’s contributions make Stamford the great place that it is. This year’s selection committee includes:
-
Rick Redniss, Chair and 2016 Citizen of the Year.
-
Cathy Ostuw, 2018 Citizen of the Year.
-
Steve Fischer, Commander of Jewish War Veterans Post 142.
-
Jon Winkel, Member-at-large.
-
Jodi Gutierrez, Member-at-large.
-
Gary Stone, Member-at-large.
-
Natalie Coard, Member-at-large.
“Honoring veterans and high school seniors who have a demonstrated a deep commitment to our community, along with our Citizen of the Year, affords us an annual opportunity to celebrate the dedication and achievements of these phenomenal individuals,” said Rick Redniss. “Each year we look forward to learning more about all of the COTY nominees. Then we make the difficult decision of choosing just one who makes us proud to be part of this community.”
The committee’s criteria for selecting the award recipient has remained the same since the founding of the award in 1945. The chosen nominee shall:
-
Demonstrate a belief in interfaith harmony.
-
Possess the highest standards of responsibility in civic life.
-
Help in the promotion of projects for the public welfare.
-
Has personally worked with distinction to benefit Stamford on a community-wide basis.
“I encourage everyone to take a moment and reflect on your fellow residents who have made a difference in your life and Stamford’s community,” said Mayor Simmons. “Take the time to nominate a special person who consistently contributes to making Stamford the exceptional place that it is.”
Nominations must include a bullet point summary of the nominee’s background supporting the criteria listed above.
Nominations can be filled out at stamfordcoty.org, emailed to StamfordCitizen@aol.com or mailed to:
Nominations Committee
2022 City of Stamford Citizen of the Year
22 First Street
Stamford, CT 06905
All nominations must be received by Friday, January 7, 2022.
Citizen of the Year is an annual award that has been given to one resident of Stamford every year since 1945. The award was founded by Fred Robbins, a war veteran of World War I and World War II — after he settled in Stamford and became involved in community affairs. Robbins worked with Mayor Webster Givens to establish the Citizen of the Year award. Mayor Givens appointed Post 142 of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States to be the sponsoring organization for the award. Post 142 has sponsored the award on behalf of the City for 75 years and in that time the award has honored more than 75 men and women who have served the Stamford Community.
About the Citizen of the Year Award:
In the early 1940s, Fred Robbins, a veteran who had served in both World War I and II, settled in Stamford in, became involved in our community affairs and worked with then Mayor Webster Givens to establish a Citizen of the Year (COTY) award. COTY has been awarded since 1945 when Mayor Givens appointed Post 142 of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States be the sponsoring organization. Post 142 has sponsored the award on behalf of the City for 74 years and over this time has honored more than 70 men and women who have served our community.
Prior City of Stamford Citizens of the Year:
1945 Father John Kelley
1946 C. Russell Waterbury
1947 Rabbi David W. Pearlman
1948 Rev. Lloyd F. Worley
1949 Walter H. Wheeler Jr.
1950 Benjamin Bogin
1951 Sarah F. Smith
1952 Norris E. Pierson
1953 Gibbs Lyons
1954 Jean Ware Hoyt
1955 Harold E. Rider
1956 Pat Marshall
1957 Harry Rosenbaum
1958 Joseph E. Morrow
1959 Rev. Donald F. Campbell
1960 J. Walter Kennedy
1961 Walter Thayer
1962 Thomas C. Mayers
1963 T. Carter Dodd
1964 Rev. Russell McGown
1965 Doris Kirshbaum
1966 John F. Cameron
1967 Herbert B. Kohn
1968 Dr. Peter Goldmark
1969 Thomas J. Feeney
1970 Rev. Cyrill S. Peters
1971 Dr. Angelo Mastrangelo
1972 John O. Nicklis
1973 Charles A. Ukkerd
1974 Alphonsus J. Donahue Jr.
1975 Louis Lotstein
1976 Lillian Moran
1977 Tony P. Pia
1978 Pobie Johnston
1979 Edith Sherman
1980 Fred T. Allen
1981 Wayne L. Tyson
1982 Christel Truglia
1983 Julius M. Wilensky
1984 Joseph F. Fahey
1985 Sylvia Rosenfield
1986 Frank D. Rich Jr.
1987 S. Beatrice Foreman
1988 Norman T. Woodbury
1989 Jane F. Norgren
1990 John T. D. Rich
1990 Elizabeth P. Rich
1991 Lynne R. Laitman
1992 Charles A. Guinta
1993 Charles C. Judd
1993 Jane M. Judd
1994 John A. Ball
1995 Michael J. Cacace
1996 George B. Harvey
1998 Adele Gordon
1999 Polly O’Brien
2000 Len Miller
2001 Sam Cingari
2002 Rev. Winton M. Hill III
2003 Marc Lyons, Jr.
2004 Rick Robustelli
2005 Sandy Goldstein
2006 Al Sanseverino
2007 June Rosenthal
2008 Richard E. Taber
2009 Juanita T. James
2010 Bobby Valentine
2011 Arthur Selkowitz
2012 Jami Sherwood
2013 Timothy J. Curtin. Jr.
2014 Gene Rubino
2015 Jay Sandak
2015 Mary Sommer
2016 Richard W. Redniss
2017 Dudley N. Williams, Jr.
2018 Gov. Dannel Malloy
2019 Cathy Ostuw