Community Service Awards
At its 2001 Annual Meeting, NABB established two awards to recognize individuals, groups, and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Back Bay residential community. These awards are named after two of NABB’s legendary leaders: Paul Prindle and Mary Natale.
- The Paul Prindle Community Leadership Award is given based upon important and sustained leadership in promoting residential interests in the Back Bay.
- The Mary Natale Citizenship Award is given based upon signficant and sustained dedication and service to the residential interests of the Back Bay and, in particular, unselfish and unheralded commitment to the community.
Both of these awards remind us that committed and visionary individuals make a difference, and that our neighborhood, as we know and love it, has been and continues to be the beneficiary of committed neighbors working together on behalf of the common good.
Paul Prindle, who died in 2000, was a legendary neighborhood activist, working on the zoning regulations of the Back Bay and serving on various CACs, starting with the Park Plaza and including Boylston Street and the Prudential Center. He is remembered for organizing the first Alley Rally, helping to establish the Clarendon Street Playground, and supporting The Learning Project Elementary School from its beginning in the early 1970s. If Paul were here today, he would give us four pieces of advice: “(1) we must be organized at the grass roots; (2) we must remain a unified organization and neighborhood; (3) we must understand the importance of the political process and we must vote on election day to ensure our voice is heard; and (4) most importantly, while doing all of this – we must have fun.” Read NABB’s tribute to Paul, entitled “Paul Prindle is Remembered as a Legendary Back Bay Activist.”
Before Mary Natale died in 2001, she had been active in the neighborhood for many years in many different capacities: as a long-serving member of NABB’s Board of Directors and its Executive Committee; as Secretary of NABB; as Chair of the Crime Committee; as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee; as Chair of the Traffic and Transportation Committee; and long-time member of the Licensing and Buiding Use Committee. Mary was an unselfish and tireless community activist who often worked behind the scenes, and was willing to do more than her share for the benefit of her neighbors. Read NABB’s tribute to Mary, entitled “NABB Cherishes the Memory of Mary Natale.”
Their work goes on and everyone is invited to participate.
| Year | Recipient of the Paul Prindle Community Leadership Award |
Recipient of the Mary Natale Citizenship Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Vicki Smith | Susan Juretschke |
| 2019 | Graffiti NABBers | Gail Laffer |
| 2018 | Don Carlson | Fritz Casselman |
| 2017 | Howard Kassler | Ellen Rooney |
| 2016 | Tony Casendino | Faith Perkins |
| 2015 | John Christiansen | Clarendon Street Playground Committee |
| 2014 | Jacquelin Yessian | Susan Baker |
| 2013 | Marty Walz | Gordon Richardson |
| 2012 | Steve Sayers | Lois Harvey |
| 2011 | Tom High | Chris Mitchell |
| 2010 | Garden Club of the Back Bay | Kathleen Kolar |
| 2009 | Peter Sherin | William Young |
| 2008 | Shirley Kressel | Brenda Adams |
| 2007 | Richard Nemrow | Richard Brayley |
| 2006 | Patti Quinn | Janet Hurwitz |
| 2005 | Fred Mauet | Vic and Marianne Castellani |
| 2004 | Elliott Laffer | Tim Mitchell |
| 2003 | Paul Demakis | Margaret Pokorny |
| 2002 | Sue Prindle | Anne Swanson |
In 2005, NABB also awarded a Special Citation for Extraordinary Service to John Devereaux in recognition of his outstanding contribution to NABB and to the neighborhood, reflecting his pivotal role as legal advisor and attorney of record on a series of critical neighborhood issues.