The Norwich Native Son-Daughter Award was created in 1968, originally as part of the Norwich Rose Arts Festival.
The Native Son/Daughter Award is presented annually by the Norwich Rotary Club, the Norwich Sunrise Rotary Club, and The Woman’s City Club of Norwich. It recognizes outstanding achievements by Norwich, Connecticut natives who reached those achievements while living outside the Norwich area.
Honorees have included doctors, professional athletes, entertainers, lawyers, and many more. Their accomplishments honor us all.
Eligibility
1. Nominees must have: a. Been either born in Norwich or to parents who were residents of Norwich at the time of the nominee’s birth and b. Lived in Norwich for most of his/her life through high school. Persons who were born to parents residing in a bordering town at the time of that person’s birth may also be nominated, providing all of the following criteria are met in full:
- Nominee moved into Norwich before beginning first grade
- Continued to reside in Norwich through high school
2. Nominee must also agree to receive the award in person at the Native Son/Daughter Award Luncheon in Norwich in the May/June time-frame.
Nomination form available here.
If you’re looking to purchase tickets to this year’s event, click here.
Norwich Native-Son Daughter Award Honorees
| Year | Honoree | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Andrew Gernhard | Filmmaker |
| 2023 | Wally Lamb | Author and teacher |
| 2022 | Dr. Vincent Laudone | Chief of Surgery Josie Robertson Surgery Center |
| 2021 | No Event (COVID-19) | |
| 2020 | No Event (COVID-19) | |
| 2019 | Charles Pikler | Chicago Symphony Orchestra Violinist and Educator |
| 2018 | Capt. Ed Cubanski | US Coast Guard |
| 2017 | Dr. Michael F. Morosky | Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Johnson Mem. Medical Ctr. |
| 2016 | Marsha E. Malinowski | CEO, Marsha Malinowski Fine Books & Manuscripts LLC |
| 2015 | Honorable Nina F. Elgo | Superior Court Judge, Hartford, Conn |
| 2014 | Matthew K. Shaughnessy | Football Player, Arizona Cardinals |
| 2013 | Richard W. Brewer | Insurance executive and economist |
| 2012 | William Diodato | Fashion photographer |
| 2011 | Maureen Sullivan | President, American Library Association |
| 2010 | Thomas R. McCarthy * | Kentucky Derby horse trainer |
| 2009 | Alexander Kreiglowa | Real estate investor, philanthropic work |
| 2008 | Michael C Mathieu | Computer programmer invented spell check |
| 2007 | Dr. June A. Bradlaw * | Prominent research biologist |
| 2006 | Adm. Arnold Lotring | COO for Naval Education |
| 2005 | Adm. Robert Papp Jr. | US Coast Guard Commandant |
| 2004 | Dr. Joseph W. Gravel Jr. | Lawrence Mass. Medical program director |
| 2003 | Libby Gordon Cohen | Early childhood development & education |
| 2002 | Catherine Twomey Fosnot | Mathematics professor & childhood education |
| 2001 | Peter Slosberg | Microbrewing pioneer – Pete’s Wicked Ale |
| 2000 | Patricia Reiss Tennison | Journalist and cookbook author |
| 1999 | Dr. Robert Wilson | Runs charitable health clinics in Boston |
| 1998 | Norah O’Brien Hughes | Chairwoman of Sumitomo Bank |
| 1997 | Rene Champagne | CEO for ITT Educational Services |
| 1996 | Howie Dickenman | Head Coach, CCSU |
| 1995 | Dr. Karl Weisgraber | Alzheimer’s research, biochemist |
| 1994 | Berel Lang | Philosopher, author, and professor |
| 1993 | Brig. Gen. Thomas Mikolojcik * | Air force general during the 1993 Somalian conflict |
| 1992 | William Dorrow | Early HIV / AIDS researcher |
| 1991 | Allan Latham Jr. * | Engineer, Inventor of blood processing equipment |
| 1990 | Dr. Marie Farrell | Women’s and children’s health activist, professor |
| 1989 | Rev. Avery Post | (Past) President of the United Church of Christ |
| 1988 | Peggy Roberts McPherson | Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist |
| 1987 | Nicholas Macarchuk | College basketball coach (Canisius, Fordham, Stony Brook) |
| 1986 | Dr. Frederick Mandell | Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) expert |
| 1985 | Dr. Nellie Beetham | Ecologist and author |
| 1984 | Lewis E Randall * | Educator – Norwich Sports Hall of Fame member |
| 1983 | Deborah Sinay | Television producer and executive |
| 1982 | Dr. Eric M. Meyers | Archaeologist and Duke University professor |
| 1981 | Dr. Frank J. Pedace * | Medical doctor and vintner |
| 1980 | Budd Friedman * | Comedian and Entertainer, founder “The Improv”” |
| 1979 | Robert Brand * | Ambassador / diplomatic corps |
| 1978 | Dr. Richard Quintiliani | Doctor, director at Hartford Hospital, professor |
| 1977 | Thomas J. Welsh | Financial director of Carvel ice cream company |
| 1976 | Walter F. Brown * | CEO of Uniroyal Tore Company |
| 1975 | Dr. Robert H. Mahoney* | Educator |
| 1974 | Henry Jerome * | Big band leader and music company executive |
| 1973 | James F. Shugrue * | Commissioner – Connecticut Dept. of Transportation |
| 1972 | Dr. James W. Moore * | Athletic Director at Southern Connecticut State Univ. |
| 1971 | Lou Hazam * | Television broadcast pioneer at NBC |
| 1970 | Gen. William T. Evans * | Four-star Air Force general |
| 1969 | Msgr Terence P. Finnegan * | Chief clergyman for U.S. military forces in Europe |
| 1968 | Dr. Thomas P. Melady * | First U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican |