Harbor Heroes

Harbor Heroes are chosen for their work in service of Boston Harbor's ecology and environment, our youth and a commitment to inclusive and equitable access for our community.

Thanks to the work and commitment of these individuals and their organizations to the waterfront, our community, and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, Boston Harbor has become a civic, recreational, and educational asset for all Bostonians and the region’s residents. As we continue our work to as the leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in Boston Harbor, the region’s public beaches, and the Boston Harbor Islands, it is our pleasure to highlight the significant role they have played in strengthening and sharing these incredible natural resources. 

2024 Harbor Heroes

The Honorable Aaron M. Michlewitz

Chair, Joint Committee on Ways & Means

Rhea Nannan, Janice Parlon, Mary McCarthy, and Joe Rotondo

Department of Conservation and Recreation

Ann and Chuck Lagasse

Ocean Havens

Jill Valdés Horwood

Barr Foundation

Director, Boston Waterfront Initiative

A.a.Ron Myers and Ed Word Galan

A Trike Called Funk

Jaylen Gómez

Save the Harbor Youth Staff

2023 Harbor Heroes

  • Arthur Pearson

    Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center

  • The Freddura Family

    The Daily Catch and Calamari Fisheries

  • Maria Vasco

    Uvida Shop

  • Mswati Hanks

    Charlestown Coaltion – Turn it Around Program

  • Laura Cuddihy & Jon Ferris

    Boston Consulting Group

  • Senator Brendan Crighton, Third Essex

    Co-Chair, Metropolitan Beaches Commission

  • Rep. Adrian Madaro, First Suffolk

    Co-Chair, Metropolitan Beache Commission

2022 Harbor Heroes

  • Maureen Mazrimas

    PRESIDENT, FRIENDS OF WOLLASTON BEACH

  • Ruben Hernandez

    YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM STAFF, SAVE THE HARBOR / SAVE THE BAY

  • Nicole McClain

    FOUNDER, NORTHSHORE JUNETEENTH ASSOCIATION

  • Bryan Koop

    EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, BOSTON REGION BOSTON PROPERTIES

  • Trevor Etheridge

    DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SAVE THE HARBOR/SAVE THE BAY

  • MWRA COVID Testing Team

    LED BY STEVE RHODE, MWRA, DR. MARIANA MATUS & NEWSHA GHAELI, BIOBOT

2021 Heroes 

Mark Chrisos 
Con Edison Clean Building Energy Businesses  
Save the Harbor Board of Directors, 2010-2021 

Jon Cronin 
The Cronin Group 

Lisa Fortenberry 
Camp Harbor View 

Joseph P. Newman 
National Grid (Ret.), Save the Harbor Board Chair, 2009-2020 

Shavel’le Olivier 
Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition 

Judith Pederson, PhD 
MIT Sea Grant College Program 
Save the Harbor Board of Directors, 1996-2021 

Albert Deblas, Fatima Fontes, and Aleena Mangham  
Save the Harbor Youth Environmental Education Program Staff, 2019-2021  

2020 Heroes  

Lisa Wieland, 
Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Port Authority 

Donnie Todd,  
Airport Operations Supervisor/Corporate Social Responsibility Liaison, JetBlue Airways 

Jay and Kerry Spence,  
General Manager & President, Massachusetts Bay Lines  

Christian R. Scorzoni, Esq.,  
Travaglini, Eisenberg, & Kiley, LLC 

Patrice Haney, Michael Dello Russo, and Qalid Hassan 
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Youth Environmental Education Program Staff  

East Boston Community Partners: Presented by City Councilor Lydia Edwards 
BCYF Martin Pino & BCYF Paris Street 
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center 
East Boston YMCA 
Friends of Belle Isle Marsh 
Harborkeepers 
Neighborhood of Affordable Housing 
Piers Park Sailing Center 
Salesian Boys and Girls Club of East Boston 

2019 Heroes   

Mayor Martin Walsh  

Tom Crohan , 

AVP & Counsel for Corporate Responsibility & Government Relations, John Hancock  

Kathy Lafferty,  

Executive Director, South Boston Neighborhood House  

Allen Huang and Veera Mahadomrongkul, 

Ohana New England Dragon Boat Team  

  Shelagh Mahoney, 
CEO of Eastern Salt Company, Inc. 

David Spillane, AICP, RIBA.   

President Principal, Goody Clancy  

John Sullivan,  

Chief Engineer, Boston Water & Sewer Commission  

Sam Bowman, Maeve Fittz, Kharliyah Ortiz, 

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Youth Environmental Education Program Staff