Bill is a partner at Carmody, Torrance, Sendak, Hennessey, LLP in Stamford.  He served as legal counsel for many significant projects in Stamford including the Tully Center, and represented Stamford Hospital in securing the land use approvals for the expansion of the hospital campus.

Prior to Carmody, Bill was a partner with Sandak Hennessey & Greco LLP and from 1981 to 1986 was Assistant Corporate Counsel for the City of Stamford and has served as a Special Master in the Connecticut Superior Court.

His volunteer community service to Stamford include:

CTE: Board member 1999 to 2007, Chair 2001 to 2007: CTE provides direct client services giving low-income clients the ability to rise out of poverty. During his tenure, adult education services were expanded to include adult computer literacy; and collaborations with other community groups brought services directly located in the Yerwood Center (Library, dental clinics, child care).

Waterside School: Bill was an original board member, and is still serving. Waterside School is a co-educational PK-5th Grade independent school serving children and families regardless of limitations in income or circumstance.

The School works to instill in its students a belief in their own worth, to cultivate in each a commitment to academic excellence, and to ensure the fullest development of every child's character. Through a rigorous program of study and experience, the School empowers its students with the knowledge, skills and virtues required to enable them to excel as students and gain access to superior academic opportunities. Since inception, a state-of-the-art school building has been constructed and is now occupied by the school.

Mill River Collaborative: Bill was an original board member, and is still serving. The Mill River Collaborative is a partnership of civic, government, and business interests committed to creating and sustaining a successful Mill River Park & Greenway. Its vision is to have a world-class urban park in the Mill River Corridor that will serve as both an oasis in city life and a vibrant, diverse green space for the Stamford community.

Stamford Chamber of Commerce: Former Board member.  More than 1600 businesses and firms participate in the Chamber, which represents, strengthens and unifies Stamford business community efforts to provide the best environment in which to work and live.

Childcare Learning Centers: 110 year old agency providing early childhood education and care programs for nearly 1,000 children annually. Bill is a former board member and current Leadership Council member.

Jevera Hennessey is a partner at Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLC, a full service law firm, practicing in all aspects of estate and trust planning. She served as President of the Greenwich Bar Association from 1994-1995 and is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Fairfield County Bar Association. For many years, she was a regular estate planning course instructor in the Continuing Education program and also lectured on probate and estate planning topics through the Greenwich, Fairfield County and Connecticut Bar Associations. And she is a member of the Board of Directors for First County Bank.

Jevera has also dedicated decades of community service to the Stamford and surrounding communities. Her volunteer activities include:

SilverSource - Advisory Council member and Past Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors

Stamford Hospital Foundation - Member of Board of Directors and Planned Giving Advisory Committee Fairfield County’s Community Foundation - served 16 years as Professional Advisors Council member, an important group that connects the Foundation’s work and programs to philanthropically minded individuals

Stamford Community Emergency Response Team – an active  member since 2017

Stamford Public Education Foundation - Former member of Board of Directors

Registration Volunteer for JCC Maccabi Games in Stamford in 2006 and 2016

Pro Bono Legal Volunteer for 911 Victims

Hill House in Greenwich - Advisory Board

Governor Appointee to Connecticut Board of Examiners of Embalmers & Funeral Directors, 1995-2005

Like Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life, Courtney recognized that in fulfilling the fundamental human need for a place to call home, there is the opportunity to provide so much more than shelter. With a healthy measure of imagination and effort, he thought, we can also provide dignity, security, autonomy and at the same time, community. Better yet, Courtney outdid his fictional counterpart by applying those principles to the previously outdated standards of urban public housing, and luckily for us, he did it right here in the City of Stamford.

That’s why Charter Oak Communities, (the former Stamford Housing Authority), along with many others, nominated Courtney for the 2022 COTY. “Appointed to Charter Oak in 1996 by Mayor Malloy and elected chairman in 1998, Courtney took to this challenge as a problem solver, compassionate citizen and accomplished businessman” recalled Vincent Tufo, its CEO. “Courtney took on the long eschewed challenge of reinventing an outdated public housing model that stifled one’s quest for personal dignity, independence and economic self-sufficiency.” And he succeeded.

His list of accomplishments is long, but to name a few, Courtney’s creative and steady leadership was instrumental in:

• The redevelopment of Southfield Village into the mixed-income community of Southwood Square, which in addition to providing state of the art housing generated investment in the long neglected surrounding community.

• The redevelopment of Fairfield Court into multiple new communities including Post House and Taylor Street (serving disabled and middle income homeowners) and the Fairgate Apartments which jump started the rebirth of Stillwater Avenue.

• The redevelopment of Vidal Court into the multiple award winning Westwood and Palmer Square, two premier residential communities.

• Transformation of Stamford Manor into a bright, safe, well managed and desirable address for elderly and disabled persons.

• Developing strategic partnerships with Stamford Hospital, Family Centers and other complementary organizations to help enhance the fulfillment of COC’s mission.

• The acquisition of roads and dam removal to enhance the Mill River environment, with financial participation and countless other collaborative efforts.

• Through the City of Stamford’s innovative Fee-in-Lieu program, literally millions of dollars have been leveraged from for-profit developers into the metamorphosis of mixed income public housing.

• Obtaining two sought after HOPE VI grants (totaling $46M) for public housing revitalization and a Sustainable Communities grant for development of the Vita initiative.

• Guiding COC into a consistently high performing public housing authority for all of its programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Redevelopment, and much more.

As the (recently retired) owner of a successful Sir Speedy printing franchise, Courtney was also an active member of the Board of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District for 12 years. Former DSSD President Sandy Goldstein said “Courtney generously donated his ideas, time and expertise, all of which helped make our Downtown a much better place.” She added “Courtney and his lovely wife Judy have been actively engaged in all of our events and it is always a delight to watch them enjoy themselves and make everyone around them feel comfortable.”

Former State Representive Christel Truglia said “Courtney also provided complimentary and deeply discounted printing services to any non-profit or civic organization who thought to ask, including Fight Colorectal Cancer, Broadcasters Foundation of America, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Red Cross, not to mention his years of devoted service to the Truglia Thumbelina fund.” Christel went on to say “And why? Just because Courtney believes that helping someone is good for the heart.”

Born and raised in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Courtney earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Mathematics/ Physics from InterAmerican University and Mechanical Engineering from Northrop University. Courtney also earned an MBA from the University of Southern California. Prior to starting his own Sir Speedy franchise, he held a variety of sales and management positions with IBM in California and New York. He came to Stamford in 1981 and has called it home ever since, also serving on the board of Cornerstone Bank, the Urban League of Southwestern Connecticut and as an Advisory Board Member of Community Health Center, Inc.

Married to the love of his life Judy, they have two daughters, Lisa (and spouse Faycel), and Kerry (and spouse Gary) who have also given them two perfect grandchildren, Ben and Nate.

Cathy is an  individual who makes such a difference in the lives of so many in a community and embodies the virtues that are fundamental to our common life: compassion, generosity, service, inclusion, and hope. Indeed, the work that Cathy has done and continues to do has changed life for the better for countless individuals in very specific ways and for the wider community in ways that cannot be fully known or measured

The list of non-profit organizations that Cathy has run, worked in, or served on the board of is quite extensive. Indeed, these organizations are the very life blood of our community. They help people in need. They equip individuals to further their skills and training. They bring together private and public, business and government, individuals and organizations to collaborate for the strengthening of all. Fairfield County Community Foundation, United Way, Building One Community, Person to Person, Domus and many other organizations have benefited greatly from the skills, energy, and expertise that Cathy brings to her work.

Indeed, the skill, energy, and expertise that Cathy possesses is critical to understanding her value to organizations and our community. It is not enough that Cathy serves and has served in a number of organizations. She certainly is one of the most involved and committed individuals when she serves. Her list of leadership roles on boards and in organizations--e.g. Executive Director, President, Treasurer, etc.-­ underscores her value and the degree to which she is involved. Cathy is the type of person that you want to work with. Her knowledge of the nonprofit world in Stamford, the needs of the community, best practices for organizations to run well and remain accountable, and her skill in collaborating with others to achieve the mission of the organization is, simply put, amazing.

Even when he went to Hartford, Dan Malloy never left Stamford and maybe he never will. After all, over the past four decades his vision has helped define the best part of us. To see it, just look at our faithfully restored yet reimagined Old Town Hall. To hear it, listen to the fresh gurgle of the Mill River spilling along its Riverwalk. Dan’s inspiration inhabits a bustling downtown sustained with safe and affordable urban housing and an expanded UCONN campus. It hikes through green spaces like Mianus River Park, the Soundwaters Coastal Education Center and the Bird Sanctuary at Cove Island. It runs through recreational places in our schools, at Lione and Scalzi Park, and the West Beach athletic fields, now connected by the Urban Transitway to a newly sparkling Waterside at Harbor Point.  It honors the sacrifice of many at a new Veterans Park. And perhaps most important is the impression he has left on our public schools. He helped us add a new Rogers International School, AITE, Wright Tech, Stamford Academy, Scofield and Rippowam Middle Schools and the first universal Pre-K program in Connecticut. And he added all that to a public school system that was already pretty good. Why, it had even helped turn a kid with learning disabilities into an attorney, a mayor and our State’s 88th governor; and of course, our 2018 Stamford Citizen of the Year.

Dudley Williams – a passionate and involved member of the Stamford Community for 29 years – is known for his service and spirit, leadership and generosity. He is particularly known for working hard, often behind the scenes, with a range of city leaders, nonprofits, businesses, youth and other citizens, helping to ensure Stamford stays on a path of positive change, providing opportunity and quality of life for all of Stamford’s neighborhoods, and always with an eye on promoting forward-thinking, sustainable policymaking, especially in the education arena.

Dudley’s commitment to education and public service began as the parent of a child in the Stamford school system, and encouraged by friends and colleagues, he ran for a seat on the school board, where he served for three terms, including two as president. In addition to the Board of Education, he served on the Stamford Planning Board, and most recently, in 2015, was elected to the Board of Finance.

Over the years, Dudley has held leadership positions for numerous on nonprofits, including the Urban League of Southwestern Connecticut; CTE; United Way of Western Connecticut; Stamford Achieves; Nellie Mae Education Foundation; the Sexual Assault Crisis & Education Center; the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education; the Connecticut Science Center; the Boy Scouts of America, Connecticut Yankee Council, Stamford Troop 1. He currently serves on the boards of the Stamford YMCA; the Avon Theatre; Ferguson Library; the Connecticut Center for School Change; and Leadership Council for Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County.

Dudley is the President and CEO of the Mill River Collaborative, before which he served as the Stamford Y’s interim CEO. Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, Dudley had an extensive career in media and entertainment, education and business. He retired in 2016 from GE Asset Management as Senior Vice President of Citizenship & Diversity. 

Dudley and his wife Juanita live in North Stamford where they raised their son, Dudley III.

Few lessons stick like this one did for our 2016 Citizen of the Year. It was in 1970 at Adelphi University, where Rick was studying to become a teacher, when Dr. Kirk, Rick’s favorite professor dispensed this dose of wisdom that would help shape his student’s character in ways he would never get to appreciate. Of course, Stamford is much more fortunate than the good professor. We have all been witness to Rick and the many ways he has helped shape our City. And as a bonus, all of us here tonight get to let him know how much we appreciate him.

Always a “Mr. Fix-it”, Rick used to work on his own cars and motorcycles (and his ’65 Sunbeam really did need work). So, Dr. Kirk decided to shed another pearl of wisdom, this time for focus: “If you want to fix cars, fix cars. If you want to be a teacher, then be a teacher.” And so a teacher Rick became, along with his bride, Robin, (another “pearl” Rick received from Adelphi, and from Worcester, Mass., before that) whom has stuck with him through the 47 years since.

After college, Rick and Robin received graduate degrees at Antioch College in elementary school education. They originally settled in Larchmont where Rick taught 6th grade at the Murray Avenue School while commuting to Hunter College at night, earning a degree in urban planning in 1978. At the time Robin was busy with their baby Seth, now a successful attorney (and an even more successful Dad to 3-year-old Lily, Rick and Robin ’s thoughtful granddaughter). Soon after, their daughter Lauren was born—now a professor, a critically acclaimed artist and author (and Mom to their grandsons 4-year-old Theo the precocious one, and 12-year-old Sasha, the wise). After providing Seth and Lauren with a strong foundation and a deep sense of empathy, Robin returned to teaching at Long Ridge School where she shared these gifts with the children of others for the next 25 years.

Rick grew up in Stamford with his brother Ray, the sons of Bob and Claire Redniss. Bob, who is one of our honored veterans tonight, had a small surveying and engineering firm he had started in 1957 called Parsons Bromfield & Redniss. In 1978, when Rick finally left Murray Avenue and returned to Stamford—for what began as a request for a loan from his father that turned into a summer job with his father, and then a decades-long career with his brother (and at times, Claire), no one could have foreseen the city-shaping phenomena that would become Redniss & Mead under Rick’s leadership. With the ink still wet on his urban planning degree, no experience, and neither an engineer, surveyor nor an attorney, Rick stuck his neck out and created his own profession. He became a “land-use point guard,” dishing out assists to teams made up of architects, surveyors, engineers and lawyers to gain approval for developments of all types and sizes. Of course, Rick is just as likely to talk about the assist he scored as a real point guard for Lafayette College in a game against Rutgers—but that’s another story.

It’s difficult to find a Stamford neighborhood or an aspect of its distinctive skyline that hasn’t been improved by Rick Redniss. Reflected in every project are function, beauty and the environment, created in no small part by his capacity to listen—to his clients, to his team, to the neighbors and to land use staffs and boards. And true to Dr. Kirk, Rick has remained both a student and a teacher. He studies the needs and concerns of his clients and their neighbors and teaches solutions to gain their approval. Rick has also been all backbone—he’s never taken on a project he didn’t believe in, and he will not fake sincerity.

A former Eagle Scout (like his father and brother before him) Rick has immersed himself in volunteer public service in Stamford. For over 30 years, the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford has had the benefit of his passion and energy, as he helped them complete its home on Stillwater Avenue and reopen the Yerwood Center. This year a new Fairfield County Hospice House will open on Roxbury Road, debt free, because of Rick’s vision, persistence, and talent to raise money (and to cajole in-kind contributions from many generous trades).

His other contributions are too numerous to mention but we’ll try. He’s the chair of the Veterans Park Ad Hoc Committee and is also lending his talents to Person-to-Person and Leone Park. He has served on the Stamford Historic Area Rehabilitation Program, the Mayor’s Task Force on Open Space, the Mayor ’s Task Force on Affordable Housing, and the Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on Affordable Housing. He has volunteered for Stamford Land Conservation Trust, Mill River Park, the Stamford Historical Society, the DSSD, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, the School Readiness Council, the Sisters, Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts, Temple Beth El, Agudath Sholom and the Stamford JCC, among many, many others.

Stamford is grateful to Rick Redniss for the many ways that he has demonstrated a backbone and for all the times he stuck his neck out. It’s why we admire him.

Jay Sandak and Mary Sommer are an inspiring, dynamic couple that has
contributed so quietly so much of themselves to our City for more than three
decades with their unique, steadfast and winning combination of commitment,
insight and integrity.

​

Jay and Mary are engaged legal professionals whose spirited hands-on
community service is in their DNA: It’s who they are. And their impact on our
community has enabled each and every one of us to benefit from their wisdom,
philanthropy and volunteerism whether we’re aware of it or not.

​

Jay, a native of Stamford, is a partner at the law firm of Carmody Torrance
Sandak & Hennessey with a full-time alternate dispute resolution practice with
an emphasis on mediation. He is also president of the Herbert & Nell Singer
Foundation. His involvement in Stamford not only reflects a love of where he grew up, but also a strong focus on

improving the health, safety and quality of human services for people living and working here.

​

Jay’s leadership experience here is vast, ranging from Board and Committee positions with the Child Guidance Center, Hands for Life, Shelter for the Homeless/Pacific House and United Way of Stamford to the Stamford EMS Foundation.  As the foundation’s first Board president he was instrumental in introducing paramedic corps services for the City and,
in doing so, brought Stamford Hospital and St. Joseph’s to work together to provide these services.

​

Mary, who moved from private practice to the bench in 2008 when she was appointed a Superior Court Judge for the State of Connecticut, is well-known for her passion on children’s mental health and legal rights, education and public/private  initiatives.

In addition to the many organizations that have benefited from Mary’s service on advisory boards for child advocacy programs, juvenile justice activities and prison literacy programs, she has been a Board member and prominent supporter of the Child Guidance Center, past president of the board at King & Low Heywood Thomas School, and currently serves
on the boards of Connecticut Appleseed Foundation for Law and Justice, Fairfield County Bar Foundation, Ferguson Library Foundation, Hope for Haiti, Inc., and is a trustee of the College of New Rochelle.

​

While a lot of their service is done separately, the projects Jay and Mary have collaborated on are many from scouting to building schools in Haiti after the earthquake. In particular, they are well-known as a family for having turned their home
into a huge bakery for 10 years for the Jackie Robinson Park of Fame annual Christmas celebration held at the Yerwood Center, for which they would bake up a storm, delivering dozens and dozens of cakes, pies, brownies and cupcakes.

​

Jay and Mary, who also both have acted as Corporation Counsel for the City, live in the Westover area where they raised their three sons, David, Tom and Steve. And guess what? David, Tom and Steve are walking in their parents footsteps in their respective communities, sharing that Sandak-Sommer DNA that we’ve been so fortunate to receive!

Jay Sandak and Mary Sommer are an inspiring, dynamic couple that has
contributed so quietly so much of themselves to our City for more than three
decades with their unique, steadfast and winning combination of commitment,
insight and integrity.

​

Jay and Mary are engaged legal professionals whose spirited hands-on
community service is in their DNA: It’s who they are. And their impact on our
community has enabled each and every one of us to benefit from their wisdom,
philanthropy and volunteerism whether we’re aware of it or not.

​

Jay, a native of Stamford, is a partner at the law firm of Carmody Torrance
Sandak & Hennessey with a full-time alternate dispute resolution practice with
an emphasis on mediation. He is also president of the Herbert & Nell Singer
Foundation. His involvement in Stamford not only reflects a love of where he grew up, but also a strong focus on

improving the health, safety and quality of human services for people living and working here.

​

Jay’s leadership experience here is vast, ranging from Board and Committee positions with the Child Guidance Center, Hands for Life, Shelter for the Homeless/Pacific House and United Way of Stamford to the Stamford EMS Foundation.  As the foundation’s first Board president he was instrumental in introducing paramedic corps services for the City and,
in doing so, brought Stamford Hospital and St. Joseph’s to work together to provide these services.

​

Mary, who moved from private practice to the bench in 2008 when she was appointed a Superior Court Judge for the State of Connecticut, is well-known for her passion on children’s mental health and legal rights, education and public/private  initiatives.

In addition to the many organizations that have benefited from Mary’s service on advisory boards for child advocacy programs, juvenile justice activities and prison literacy programs, she has been a Board member and prominent supporter of the Child Guidance Center, past president of the board at King & Low Heywood Thomas School, and currently serves
on the boards of Connecticut Appleseed Foundation for Law and Justice, Fairfield County Bar Foundation, Ferguson Library Foundation, Hope for Haiti, Inc., and is a trustee of the College of New Rochelle.

​

While a lot of their service is done separately, the projects Jay and Mary have collaborated on are many from scouting to building schools in Haiti after the earthquake. In particular, they are well-known as a family for having turned their home
into a huge bakery for 10 years for the Jackie Robinson Park of Fame annual Christmas celebration held at the Yerwood Center, for which they would bake up a storm, delivering dozens and dozens of cakes, pies, brownies and cupcakes.

​

Jay and Mary, who also both have acted as Corporation Counsel for the City, live in the Westover area where they raised their three sons, David, Tom and Steve. And guess what? David, Tom and Steve are walking in their parents footsteps in their respective communities, sharing that Sandak-Sommer DNA that we’ve been so fortunate to receive!

Gene Rubino is truly a native son of Stamford. Often referred to as Mr. Stamford, because of his love, involvement and support of the City, Gene grew up in Glenbrook, attended Stamford High and then attended Tampa University and the University of Cincinnati, and served in the National Guard.

In 1965, after returning to Connecticut, Gene married Day Hawthorne, and the young couple started out living at the Hoyt-Bedford Apartments while Gene worked in the family scrap business, Rubino Brothers. Over the next few years Gene’s interest and passion for real estate ignited, and following an initial period of selling solo, he joined Davidoff Realty. Then in 1970, he founded Plaza Realty. Plaza Realty was the first full-service real estate company in the Stamford area and now is the largest management company in Fairfield County, working on both commercial and residential projects. Under Gene’s leadership the company introduced a spectrum of specialized services that have since set new standards of professional excellence in the industry. 

Gene’s decades of dedicated community service in Stamford are reflected in a wide range of giving. He has directly and indirectly touched the lives of thousands of Stamford children. His support of our youth is often highlighted with the Stamford Youth Basketball League, of which he was a founder and a sponsor for more than 20 years of its Upstart Division for five to eight year olds. 

His leadership as president and board member of the Stamford Exchange Club further reflects his advocacy for kids in yet another way. Gene was instrumental in creating the Child Abuse Prevention and Child Parenting Center, was a driver in providing volunteers for both summer and winter Special Olympics, and was instrumental in the “Give a Kid a Flag” program in conjunction with Stamford’s Veterans Day Parade. 

Gene has held many other leadership positions with our City’s nonprofits, including the American Red Cross, the Downtown Special Services District, the Italian Center, the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, the Stamford YMCA and the Yerwood Center. A skilled networker and fundraiser, Gene has contributed his services and support in capital campaigns – $3.5 million to build a new facility 

for the Boys and Girls Club and $1.75 million for renovations to the YMCA – and underwritten citywide events such as the Veterans Day Parade and July 4th fireworks. 

Currently, Gene serves on the Yale University School of Medicine Eye Center Advisory Board and is a member of the State Street Debating Society, where he has donated an annual scholarship for several years.

Gene and Day live in the Newfield area.  Their daughter and son-in-law, Nicole and Mike Hibbert have two daughters, Morgan and Faith

Tim Curtin’s energy and generosity has served the City of Stamford in many capacities over the years. His impact has spanned from supporting our culture and arts to preserving our history to improving our quality of life. And all done with humor, wisdom and spirit.

After Tim graduated from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during closing months of World War II and served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Boston College, his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University Law School and his M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut. While attending Georgetown Law School, Tim met his future wife, Fay, where, as two ardent art lovers, they took advantage of Washington, D.C.’s museums and cultural events – passions that Stamford later benefited.

Tim joined the FBI and served in the agency for 13 years. He participated in the landmark 1964 investigation that solved the murders of three voting rights activists immortalized in the film Mississippi Burning and the case in which the stolen Krupp Diamond was recovered. He also worked on several high-profile organized crime cases.

On leaving the FBI, Tim moved to Stamford to work for CIBA-Geigy. Almost as soon as he and his family moved to Stamford in the mid-1960s, he began demonstrating his commitment to public service. Over the past five decades, Tim has served in leadership positions in city government that included the Planning Board, the Stamford Fire Commission, the Stamford Water Pollution Control Authority, the Stamford Cultural Development Corp. and the Stamford Partnership.

After retiring from CIBA-Geigy in the mid-1990s as vice president, corporate relations, Tim served on Mayor Malloy’s transition team and cabinet as unsalaried special assistant. For five years he spearheaded key municipal projects, such as funding for the reconstruction of the Palace Theater and jump starting the Mill River initiative. Appointed director of operations in 2000, Tim’s tenure is highlighted by his efforts to save Old Town Hall, build four new parks, and not only to save the WPA Daugherty Murals, but also to promote public art throughout Stamford. In 2007, Tim left the Office of Operations and returned to the position of unsalaried assistant to the Mayor, and he has continued to serve the City as a dollar-a-year man and supervise special projects.

Tim and his wife Fay live in Shippan and have raised four sons in Stamford.

Jami Sherwood has been an integral part of what makes Stamford work for more than three decades. Playing an active role both up front and behind the scenes to grow our City’s commitment to community, outreach and volunteerism, Jami has given generously her time, creative talent and extraordinary planning skills to many of Stamford’s organizations. Among them are The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education, Curtain Call, the Mill River Collaborative, Stamford Downtown and the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. Her long-term involvement with Curtain Call includes serving on its Board in various roles for nearly two decades, seven of which were as Board Chair.

Jami also has volunteered on the Stamford Downtown Event Operations Team for nearly 15 years. She has been involved with the logistics of the DSSD Parade Spectacular and Alive@Five concert series, and has donated services and expertise for numerous fundraisers and events, ranging from the Big Apple Circus for the Mill River Collaborative and Stamford Downtown to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Wine Tasting to chairing Curtain Call’s Dancing with the Stars Committee.

Jami lives and works in the Springdale section of Stamford, where she raised her two children, Lauren and Robbie, and is the owner of Simply Signs, a business that provides graphic design, signage, promotional items and event management locally and nationally.

Arthur Selkowitz has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to  the city of Stamford. Through his inspirational leadership, innovative thinking and passionate volunteerism, Arty has been a role model and generous mentor not only to his fellow citizens and colleagues, but also to our community's nonprofit organizations and businesses.

Among Arty's most notable contributions to Stamford has been as a founding member and the chairman of the Mill River Collaborative for the past nine years. Through his leadership, advocacy and tenacity, Arty is bringing to fruition a plan that has been a vision for transforming Stamford's downtown and riverfront for more than 100 years. His work on the Greenway Project is an outstanding example of citizenship, consensus building and community engagement.

In 2010, Arty was honored by the Stamford Downtown Special Services District for this commitment.

Arty is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Avon Theater and the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. He is also a director and serves on the Executive Committee of the Lupus Research Institute in New York City. Included among the many other organizations in which he is involved are lnspirica (formerly St. Luke's Lifeworks), Person-to-Person and Curtain Call. An impressive factoid - now part of Stamford lore - is that in 2008, Arty was named "star dancer" of Curtain Call's Dancing with the Stars for performing quite a sultry tango of which he is duly proud!

Additionally, Arty has served as president of the Stamford Jewish Community Center, co-chaired its Council of Trustees and received its Harold E. Hoffman Humanitarian Award . Other honors have included the Outstanding Philanthropist of the year given in 2011 by Moffly Media and the Global Leadership Award given in 2000 by the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York. The latter is presented to a marketing communications executive for philanthropic leadership and service.

As many of us know, Arty and his wife Betsey often work together as a powerful team serving the organizations they strongly believe in and support as a family . In addition to the Lupus Research Institute, Arty and Betsey have been honored by the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield for their outstanding ser vice.

Arty, who began his legendary career as a copywriter for Montgomery Ward,  retired  in  2002 as Vice Chairman & Chief Client Officer of Bcom3 Group, Inc., one of the world's leading marketing communications holding companies . Previously, he was Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles.

Arty and Betsey raised their two sons, Adam and Jed, in Stamford. They currently reside in Shippan.

A native of Stamford, Bobby has had a lifelong commitment to the City of Stamford and its residents. His civic involvement has included cleaning up the Columbus Park area; serving as chair of the City’s Fire Service reorganization taskforce; and (currently) serving as the City of Stamford Director of Public Safety. He also serves on the Boards of the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund for Scholastic Excellence, The Western CT Chapter of Multiple Sclerosis, Tully Health Center, and the Richard D. Frisbee Foundation.

Although Bobby is widely known for his sports career, he has been honored by numerous organizations throughout his lifetime and has been the recipient of several awards for his humanitarian efforts during the September 11threcovery, among them the Branch Ricky Award from the MLB, and the key to the City from NYC Mayor Giuliani. Other humanitarian awards included the Joan Payson Award, the William Shea Little League Award, and the Bart Giamatti Award.

Bobby tirelessly devotes his time and energy to countless charitable organizations and/or events as a guest speaker, host, or other role to help raise many millions of dollars for health care, research, and education. The following is a partial list of some of the events he has been involved with in the past year.

• Auctioneer for DSSD Sculpture Program

• Celebrity Waiter at Morton’s FBO Hanna      Storm Foundation

• Keynote Speaker at Westhill High School      Graduation Ceremonies

• Presentation at Springdale Little      League Game

• Guest Speaker at Sterling House      Community Center Fundraiser

• Guest Speaker at Norwalk Chamber Annual      Meeting

• Guest Speaker at Sports Career      Opportunities Seminar

• Guest Host Haiti Benefit Dinner

• Speaker Swim Across the Sound benefit      dinner

• Longtime supporter of MS Dinner for      Champions

• Celebrity Host for Strike3Foundation      FBO Pediatric Cancer Research

Bobby has been honored by Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, National Diabetes Foundation, Tuesday’s Children, and QSAC Autism Foundation. He is a member of the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame, the Connecticut Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. He has been the Grand Marshall at the NYC Columbus Day Parade as well as the Stamford Thanksgiving Parade and is an international dance champion for the Bill Defamato Dance School, having performed at the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Pavillion at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.

Bobby has been involved in major league baseball since 1968 as a player (LA Dodgers, California Angels, San Diego Padres, NY Mets, and Seattle Mariners) and manager (Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines). He was the only foreign recipient of the prestigious Shoriki Award, given to those who make great contributions to Japanese Baseball. He can be seen and heard during the 2011 MLB season as part of the Sunday Night Baseball crew on ESPN.

He is the owner of Bobby V’s Sports Gallery Café in Stamford and Texas and Bobby Valentine’s Sports Academy in Springdale.

Bobby has been a financial supporter, a role model, and an inspirational speaker to young people everywhere while making special efforts on behalf of the youth of his hometown.  He has always remembered his home and continues to be a good neighbor, a great friend and “one of us” to the people of Stamford.  Talk to people who live here and you will see that it is not hard to find someone whose family has been touched by Bobby in some memorable way.

Bobby attended the University of Southern California where he became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Bobby and Mary, his wife of 34 years, have one son, Robert J. Valentine, Jr., 27. Mary is the daughter of Ralph Branca, the former pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

A Stamford resident since 1989, Juanita T. James is deeply committed to the local community and has taken various leadership roles in numerous Stamford organizations. Community and civic responsibilities include serving as Board President of the Stamford Museum and Nature Center; a member of Childcare Learning Centers’ Leadership Council, and a member of the First County Bank Board of Corporators.  She is an ordained elder and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford as well as an active supporter of the Urban League of Southern Connecticut, Curtain Call, and the Reinventing Stamford initiative.  Prior service includes:  Director of the Stamford Symphony, Secretary of the Board for the Ferguson Library, and President of Westhill High School’s Northstar PPG.

Ms. James is Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Pitney Bowes Inc.  At Pitney Bowes, she is responsible for corporate marketing, brand management, media and analyst relations, employee and executive communications, and corporate citizenship and philanthropy.  Before joining Pitney Bowes, she held senior executive positions at Doubleday Direct (a division of Bertelsmann, Inc.) and built a progressive 20-year career with Time Warner, Inc.

Ms. James is a Director of the Asbury Automotive Group, a Trustee of Lesley University and an Emeritus Trustee of Princeton University.  She is a member of the John Caples International Awards Board, the Corporate Advisory Council for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and a Director of Reading is Fundamental (RIF). 

Ms. James holds a Master’s Degree in Business Policy from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business Program where she received the Distinguished Service Award.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Romance Languages from Princeton University. Ms. James resides in Stamford with her husband, Dudley N. Williams Jr., 

and their son, Dudley N. Williams III.

Richard E. Taber, 60, is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of First County Bank, a position he has held since 1989.  He was promoted to president and CEO in 1982 and has worked at the bank since 1967, when he joined as a part-time teller while attending college.  Today, Taber’s responsibilities include advising the board of directors on formulating policies and planning recommendations, overseeing financial, tax, risk management, and assuring the organization and its mission, programs, products and services are consistently presented in a strong, positive way to relevant stakeholders.  Most importantly, Taber serves as the corporate visionary, looking for ways to enhance the services, reputation and significance of the bank to its customers, employees and the communities in which it serves.

During his 42-year career with the bank, he has served as an accounting clerk, assistant treasurer/operations officer, assistant vice president/controller, executive vice president, president and chairman.  Under Taber’s leadership, the bank’s assets have grown from $300 million in 1982 to more than $1.2 billion today.   

A Stamford resident since 1955, Taber is deeply involved in the local community.  Currently, he serves as director of The Business Council of Fairfield County, director of Senior Services of Stamford, on the advisory board of Childcare Learning Center, chairman of the Stamford Police Foundation and member (and past president) of the Rotary Club of Stamford.  He also is on the boards of directors for the Housing Development Fund and the Ferguson Library Citizen Advisory Board.  Taber has served as director and treasurer for both the Stamford Partnership and Stamford Development Corp, and has held a variety of positions on the board of directors for the Stamford YMCA and ARI of Connecticut Inc.  He also has served as commissioner and past chairman of the Downtown Special Services District, where he was recently named Stamford Citizen of the Year by the Jewish War Veterans Post 142.

Taber earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Michigan University in 1971 and graduated from the National School of Financial Management in 1980.  In his spare time, Taber enjoys fly fishing and golf.  He lives in Stamford with his wife Donna and they have three children.  

First County Bank, headquartered in Stamford, Conn., is an independent mutual community bank with 14 branches in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk and Westport offering deposit products, mortgages, trust and investment services, business banking services and online banking.  First County Bank has assets in excess of $1.2 billion.  For additional information, please visit www.firstcountybank.com.

June Rosenthal was selected as the City of Stamford Citizen of the Year 2007 for her countless contributions to helping to improve the quality of life in the city through not only her professional expertise but also through her selfless support and participation in a myriad of Arts and Community Service organizations.

Professionally, she has operated Juner Properties since 1986, and is a Board Member and past President of the Stamford Board of Realtors.   

HOWEVER . . . . . . .it is June’s devotion to and support of the community which we celebrate by bestowing her with Stamford’s most prestigious honor. 

June serves the Stamford Museum and Nature Center as a board member, she is on the Leadership Council at Childcare Learning Center, on the advisory boards for the Stamford Land Conservation and Stamford Center for the Arts, and is a past Board Member of  the Stamford Historical Society.

Organizations have come to consider June an “Ambassador to the Community” for her ongoing generous contributions and her efforts to raise the agencies’ visibility and to promote and solicit greater private sector funding.

For decades, June has also been an active supporter of the Stamford Public School system, and has generously supported the Stamford High Alcohol Free After Prom program.  She understands that a well-functioning school system is essential to a successful community.

June and her husband Rolf, a WW II veteran have been married for 58 years, and resided in Stamford for 54 years.  They have two children, Reid and Jan, and two grandchildren Jordan and Rhett

Sandy Goldstein has lived in Stamford for over three decades. She has won many awards including Ferguson Library’s Lillian Moran Community service award, Hannah C. Solomon Community Award and Pink Tent Distinguished Service Award.

Sandy Goldstein won the Stamford Citizen award for her tireless dedication to helping others in the Stamford Community. Sandy was on the Stamford Board of representatives for twenty years. She was also was a part of Stamford’s chamber of commerce, Stamford’ partnership, Stamford’s center of the arts, Mill River collaborative. Sandy was also a Chairperson of Keep Stamford Beautiful, a Vice chair of the international Downtown Association, Vice Chair of International Downtown Association and Stamford Downtown Special Services district.