Islanders with the most community, Christmas spirit awarded by Chamber, newspaper
MARCO ISLAND — Award presenters maintained the suspense up to the very the last minute at Sunday’s Christmas Island Style Gala to celebrate Marco’s top community contributors. Now the secret is out and this year’s Naples Daily News Citizen of the Year is Cheryl Ferrara.
The Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Dick Shanahan and the 2008 Marco Eagle Volunteer of the Year is the often costumed, always generous Dale Rod.
“Oh my goodness, I’m flushed... I’m so humbled. I’m speechless,” said Ferrara as she accepted the Citizen of the Year award.
Many who know her well say it’s rare to see the former Marco Eagle publisher and editor at a loss for words.
Chris Doyle, President and Publisher of the Naples Daily News and Scripps Southwest Florida Group, presented Ferrara with the award but not without first leaving the audience to guess who she was with 10 clues or characteristics about the recipient.
Doyle said she is a great cook, has visited Italy twice and “her second true love is a cockatiel.”
Doyle brought on a couple chuckles from the crowd when he spoke jokingly of the likeness between himself and Ferrara.
“This year’s recipient was known to participate in protests while in college. I’ve seen a protester or two outside the newspaper,” he said with a smile.
Many in the audience weren’t on to Bob Sandy, general manager of the Marco Eagle and director of community and niche products, as he presented the Volunteer of the Year award until he said “You may know this man best from seeing him dance in his Lederhosen at our annual Oktoberfest fundraiser.”
Sandy described Rod as someone who contributes “behind the scenes” who is also a “great dancer.”
Rod’s acceptance of the Marco Eagle 2008 Volunteer of the Year Award might be described as simple and sweet.
“I grew up volunteering in Illinois... Thank you... I love you,” he said smiling broadly as he held the award over the podium.
Shanahan said he was “stunned” to be receive the Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award from Sandi Riedemann, executive director of the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce.
As part of his award, Shanahan was gifted an oil on canvass portrait of himself by Island artist Stephen Muldoon, who is originally from Cleveland, OH.
“When I first got here I was an artist looking for work. (Shanahan) showed me around and here I am now with a wonderful career... He’s the man of the year every year in my heart,” Muldoon said.
Shanahan approved of the portrait and the award.
“There are so many people on this island that have the right to stand where I am now... however, I do accept this award,” he said.
More about Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dick Shanahan:
Shanahan was sales and marketing director for an auto parts manufacturer working throughout Florida in the 1950s. Originally from Chicago, Shanahan has also lived and worked in Atlanta, GA and Nashville, Tenn.
He visited Marco in the 1960s and ‘70s, lived here part time in the 80s and has lived on Island full time since 1987.
Shanahan was a Collier County Commissioner for one four-year term beginning 1988.
He has served as president for many Island-area, nonprofit boards, including the local American Cancer Society, Marco Island Rotary Club, Marco Island Prayer Breakfast and Greater Marco YMCA. He is chairman of the Eagle Open, a charitable golf event 35 years in the running, benefiting the Charter School and other Island organizations.
He currently serves as the president of the Marco Police Foundation and was president of the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors for three terms.
Shanahan is one of the Knights of Columbus at San Marco Catholic Church and has supported at least as many Island individuals in times of need as he has Island organizations.
He is a realtor, golfer and family man with his wife Kathy, five children, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
More about Volunteer of the Year Dale Rod:
Dale Rod is a person who uses his creativity, imagination and handyman skills to place the extra touches for each event to make it more enjoyable and authentic especially with themed gatherings.
He is also a master of disguise, dressing up as characters to fit every occasion. From helping build a huge playground in Mackle Park to coaching and managing youth and adult sports, from fundraising activities for Tommie Barfield Elementary and the Marco Island Charter Middle School to organizing multiple events for the Wishing Well Foundation. Rod had himself locked up to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy recently.
In his spare time, he is the vice president of special events for the Marco Island YMCA and chairman for the Taste of Marco and also for the annual Marco Island Oktoberfest.
Past recipients of the Volunteer of the Year include Paula Camposano-Robinson, Joel Gewirtz, Rita Broderick, Fay Biles, Dave Rice, Paula Tateo, Pat Berry, Phillip Penzo, Al Diaz, Cindy Anderson, Pat Stoye, Charlie Horn, Carolyn Katchmar, Helen Ann Federspiel and Judy Barney
More about Citizen of the Year Cheryl Ferrara:
Ferrara served as editor and publisher of the Marco Island Eagle from April 1995 through June 2006 after serving as publisher of The York County Coast Star in Kennebunk, Maine.
She served as president, vice-president and treasurer of the Marco Island Sunrise Rotary, served on the Scholarship Foundation, was the Gift of Life Coordinator, won Rotarian of the Year 1999 and served as the Area One District Governor in 2004 – 2005.
She was President of the Marco YMCA and currently is a board member serving on the capital campaign committee. She is on the board of directors for the Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation. Other boards and committees have included the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce, Ability to Care Hospital Committee, Marco Island Film Festival, Marco Island Charter Middle School Building Committee, San Generro Festival, Blue Ribbon Panel on Teen Affairs, and Christmas Island Style. As a graduate of Leadership Collier this year’s recipient served on the original Leadership Marco development team.
Ferrara was responsible for raising thousands of dollars for the Marco Island Art League and the Marco YMCA by organizing and initiating the Dolphin Debut.
She is involved in outreach activities including organizing migrant worker Thanksgiving Dinner’s, led humanitarian trips to Haiti to deliver clothing and toys to orphans, spearheads medical missions to Peru, collected hygiene products for the Immokalee Friendship House, is a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, and sings, coordinates and leads the choir in Everglades City.
Several past award winners, which include Dottie Weiner, Bob Stakich, Tom Shea, Robert Mulhere, Joe Coriaci, Tom Owens, Dick Shanahan, Mel Ollman, George Schroll, Jim Curran, Herb Savage, Marion Blomier and Craig Woodward, joined Doyle in presenting the award to Ferrara.
The Naples Daily News 2008 Citizen of the year spends her summers in Shapliegh, Maine with her husband of 38 years, Tony and their cockatiel Sunshine. They have a son, Nate, daughter Elizabeth and granddaughter Kyla.
Ferrara is currently working on her first historical novel.
She is always behind the scenes creating newsletters for organizations and writing music for church groups, Doyle said.
Ferrara is no stranger to awards and honors including one of Scripps’ top awards, the prestigious William Burleigh Award for Community Service, from the E.W. Scripps Foundation while publisher of the Marco Eagle.
Other awards and recognitions at the 17th Annual Gala included awards from Christmas Island Style Chairman Steve Stefanides, who recognized the owners of Chef's Express, the husband and wife team Rick Feinman and Ann Feinman, for feeding 80 Island family members in-need of food or company for Thanksgiving as well as serving on-duty firemen and police men.
Chamber retiree Mary Ann Cofer received special recognition from Stefanides and from the Chamber. Stefanides said Cofer has served Christmas Island Style, an organization which hosts numerous charities and events between Thanksgiving and New Years, whole-heartedly for 14 years.
Riedemann presented Cofer with flowers and gifts upon formally announcing Cofer’s retirement from the Chamber.
Cofer held back the tears saying she would miss her colleagues.
“Feel free to call me sometime,” she told the crowd at the Island Country Club.
Check Wednesday’s print edition of the Marco Eagle for updates on Sunday’s Christmas Island Style Gala.
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