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. 

2025 Harbor Heroes coming soon…

2024 Harbor Heroes

  • The Honorable Aaron M. Michlewitz 

    Chair, Joint Committee on Ways & Means 

  • Rhea Nannan, Janice Parlon, Mary McCarthy, and Joe Rotonto

    Department of Conservation and Recreation 

  • Ann & Chuck Lagasse 

    Ocean Havens

  • Jill Valdés Horwood 

    Barr Foundation Director, Boston Waterfront Initiative

  • A.a.Ron Myers & 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 Beaches Commission

2022 Heroes 

Bryan Koop
Executive Vice President, Boston Region Boston Properties

Nicole McClain 
Founder, Northshore Juneteenth Association 

Maureen Mazrimas 
President, Friends of Wollaston Beach

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

Ruben Hernandez 
 Youth Environmental Education Program Staff, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

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