Since 1987 the Citizens for Ponce Inlet Organization has selected, honored, and acknowledged a resident of Ponce Inlet or a Ponce Inlet employee for both the Citizen of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The award is to acknowledge those individuals involved in volunteer work who have made an outstanding contribution to our community.
2023 Award Winners:
Citizen of the Year - Pat Morris
When Pat and her husband Mark, last’s years Citizen of the Year, decided to retire to Ponce Inlet in 2014 they made a decision that while they were retiring from their careers in Pennsylvania, they wanted to become and stay active as volunteers in their new hometown of Ponce Inlet.
Upon permanently moving to Ponce Inlet in 2015, Pat joined the Ponce Inlet Lions Club where, over the years, she became a Director and served as Board Secretary for the Club from 2019 through 2021. While no longer on the Board of Directors, Pat continues to serve with the Lions Club and for the last three years has worked, along with her husband Mark, organizing and running the Lions Club Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament. This event is the Lions Club largest fundraiser of the year and last year this event raised over $12,000. Pat, again working alongside her husband and on behalf of the Lions, is also responsible for the Food Pantry at RJ Longstreet School, which provides assistance for children and families struggling with food insecurities. Prior to Covid, Pat also served as a teacher’s assistant for 1st grade students from Longstreet School.
Pat previously volunteered at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse as a Lighthouse Guide for two years prior to Covid. In doing so, Pat enjoyed meeting out-of-town visitors, school children and residents of our community, all while learning about the History of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. Pat especially enjoyed her tours with the school children and volunteering for the Climb to the Moon events at the Lighthouse.
Pat currently serves on the Ponce Inlet Community Center Board of Trustees and has done so since 2019. She is an active participant on the PICC Board and enjoys working on the various fundraising events, including the Community Center’s Flea Market, Soup and Salad, and Frank Sinatra and Irish Night Parties. Pat has also worked with the other volunteer Board members while working on improvements that have been made to the improve the appearance of the Center. Pat also works as a volunteer in the Community Center Office.
In 2019 Pat joined the Garden Club of Ponce Inlet and in 2020 began serving on its Board of Directors. Her first Director position with the Garden Club was as its 1st Vice President. But in November 2021 Pat took over as President of the Club when the previous President had to resign due to personal reasons. Pat is passionate about being a member of the Garden Club and serving as its President and has just recently been elected to serve as President through 2025. For the past 3 years Pat has also served as Co-Chair for the Garden’s Club Annual Arts, Crafts and Plant Show held every October. This particular show, for those of you who don’t know, has been a fixture in our community for 40 years now. Pat helps organize and run its Annual Ice Cream Social which is a fun event for residents of our community and participates with the Club in Ponce Inlet Christmas Parade and Ponce Preserves the Plant. Pat clearly enjoys meeting and working with the members of the Garden Club and looks forward to serving once again as their President.
Most recently, Pat volunteered to become a Director with CFPi. In this new position, one of Pat’s primary roles will be Oversite of C4PI’s Website. Pat looks forward to serving with the CFPI Board and continuing volunteering and serving our community in any way she can.
Lifetime Achievement Awards:
2023 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Barbara Davis
27 Years ago, Barbara Davis received the Citizen of the Year Award from our Organization for her extraordinary volunteer efforts:
Barbara Davis was appointed to the first PI advisory committee one year after moving to Ponce Inlet. She has served on other committees from 1990 to present which include:
- Volunteer Animal Control Services
- Ordinance Review Committee
- Chairman, Tree Board
- Planning Commission – twice
- Treasurer, Committee for Ponce Preserve to obtain funding from Florida Communities Trust for Ponce Preserve.
- 1993 Race Director, Arbor Day 5K (10 years)
- 2000 – 2003 Race for the Cure
- 2003 & 2004 she was Chairman of the Friends of Ponce Preserve.
- Ponce Inlet representative for Halifax/Indian River Task Force,
- She was Ponce Inlet’s coordinator for Coastal Cleanup and River Clean Up and was on the Ponce Inlet Visioning Committee.
Even now, after all these years and past accomplishments, Barbara is still volunteering ,in many ways doing things most citizens don’t even realize. If you are ever out and about in town you will see Barbara walking the beach or on her bicycle. When she comes across someone who is handicapped in some way or needs something, she is always there to help. Many days you will see her in the water teaching grandkids of residents how to surf, boogie board, paddle board or just play in the water. She teaches about the turtles and during the season you can still find her working on projects with turtles cleaning up the beach or organizing others to help. She recently created a beautiful Christmas Tree with individually designed and painted ornaments and a painted surfboard to help with fund raising for the Marine Science Center. Any time she is asked to help with an art project she is right there to lend a hand and when she hears of young ones here in town who want to learn to draw or play music she is always there with instruments or art supplies ready to help.
Along with her volunteer work she has been a member of the Garden Club, Women’s Club and Lighthouse and volunteers for all the children’s events in town. Just recently, Barbara was instrumental in encouraging the town to build the pickleball court at Pollard Park and has always advocated for the preservation of trees and parks here in town.
After all her many years of community service, I believe Barbara should receive our Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023.
2023 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: MaryAnn Redinger
MaryAnn and her husband Alan moved to Ponce Inlet in November 1992. They had been visiting often in the previous two or three years because they had friends from up north who owned a home in Ponce. They were drawn to the area and decided to make it their home. Since they still owned a business in Kansas, Alan remained busy with that. MaryAnn had gone from working 60 hours a week to being a lady of leisure. MaryAnn knew of the Community Center and began volunteering in the office. There she met a lot of folks form Ponce Inlet. Among them was Kay Davies who was on the PICC Board and was very active. MaryAnn and Kay became friends and she encouraged MaryAnn to become a member of the Board, which she did in 1993 or 1994. Beverley Girolami was President of the Board when MaryAnn first became a board member. MaryAnn served on the PICC Board for well over 20 years, many of those years as Recording Secretary.
It was also MaryAnn’s pleasure to serve as Treasurer of Citizen’s for Ponce Inlet for many years. When MaryAnn first started, postcards were sent out once a year to remind folks to pay their membership fee of $10 per year. Times have sure changed since then.
One of MaryAnn favorite activities is being a member of the Garden Club of Ponce Inlet. MaryAnn is active in many areas and very community minded as a group. She served as Treasurer for the balance of the term when the current Treasurer had to move away. After that, MaryAnn was chosen to be the Recording Secretary and held that position for many years.
In addition, MaryAnn offer her help for other various local events as often as possible. MaryAnn’s husband was always very supportive of her volunteer work and made it possible for her to dedicate her time and efforts. MaryAnn received the Citizen of the Year Award in 2005 and her husband Alan was honored with the same award in 2010. It was definitely very fulfilling for Mary Ann and Alan to live in the beautiful little community and to help maintain their way of life.
2023 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Don Hampton
In 2012 Don Hampton was CFPI’S Citizen of the Year for his many years of volunteer service to our community. Looking through old CFPI Newsletters (many of which Don designed for printing over the years) we found the following
Don Hampton is a true Florida native. Born at Halifax hospital, Don grew up in the Daytona Beach area and settled in Ponce Inlet with his family, following in his mother’s footsteps, (Wilda Hampton, who was our 1991 COTY and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016), Don has been a community leader for many years. He has rapidly become one of Ponce inlet’s “old timers”. Don served on the Board of Trustees for the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Association for over 10 years. In 1999 Don was elected to Town Council and served as a Council Member and Vice Mayor until 2001.
After his term on the Town Council, Don continued his community service on the Planning Commission. He was a member of the Planning Commission until 2002. That same year the town started the Visioning process, charting a Course for Ponce Inlet and Don was appointed as a member of the committee by the Planning Commission. Back in 2012 when he received the Citizen of the Year Award, Don was President of the Citizens for Ponce Inlet Organization . Don just retired his position as President of the Organization a few weeks ago after more than 25 years of Board service and remains on the Advisory Board as an Executive Advisor.
There are probably many other town activities that are missed in this summary of volunteer activities. Isn’t Ponce Inlet lucky to have such a committed and loyal resident who has been willing to sacrifice many years of his time to help make Ponce Inlet such a great place for all of us to live.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS:
| Year | Recipient #1 | Recipient #2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | No Awards (Covid) | No Awards (Covid) |
| 2020 | Peter Finch | |
| 2019 | Joe DiCarlo | |
| 2018 | Judy DiCarlo | |
| 2017 | Gary Smith | |
| 2016 | Mary Hoss | |
| 2015 | Liz Finch | |
| 2014 | Wini Irvin | |
| 2013 | Jerry McHugh | Ellen Pagliarulo |
| 2012 | Don Hampton | Judy Huggins |
| 2011 | Bill Dauksis | Diane Smith |
| 2010 | Kristi Drumheller | Alan Redinger |
| 2009 | Faye McHugh | Vic McClellan |
| 2008 | Margi Richard | Jim Irvin |
| 2007 | Tami Lewis | Mary Lou Hinson |
| 2006 | Jim Hinson | Marlene Heiden |
| 2005 | Mary Ann Redinger | Gene Hynds |
| 2004 | Joe Grasso | Tony Raia |
| 2003 | Robert Gregory | Donna Gunn |
| 2002 | Marge Bogert | Charles Spitzfaden |
| 2001 | Al Weedman | Steve Williams |
| 2000 | Susie Hagey | Kathryn Truswell |
| 1999 | Darlene Nichols | Bill Hibbert |
| 1998 | Hazel Dauksis | Walt Bogert |
| 1997 | Shirley Hibbert | James Utter |
| 1996 | Barbara Davis | Ann Caneer |
| 1995 | Gretchen Zale | Tom Kean |
| 1994 | Sherry Utter | Vivian Girolami |
| 1993 | Barbara Lunde | Earl Davis |
| 1992 | Carolyn Diemicke | Edwina Knox |
| 1991 | Ayers Davies | Wilda Hampton |
| 1990 | Ruth Petrov | Carolyn Sprague |
| 1989 | Kay Davies | Tony Girolami |
| 1988 | Wanda Dellacasa | Meyer Sussman |
| 1987 | Constance Hunter | Bob Burns |
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS:
| Year | Recipient #1 | Recipient #2 | Recipient #3 | Recipient # 4 | Recipient #5 | Recipient #6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | No Awards (Covid) | No Awards (Covid) | No Awards (Covid) | No Awards (Covid) | No Awards (Covid) | No Awards (Covid) |
| 2020 | Edson Graham | Sherry Utter | ||||
| 2019 | Robyn Hurd | Mary Hoss | ||||
| 2017 | Jim Hinson | Mary Lou Hinson | Carolyn Diemicke | |||
| 2016 | Ewina Knox | Wilda Hampton | Carolyn Sprague | Hazel Dauksis | Bill Hibbert | Shirley Hibbert |
| 2014 | Gladys Davis | Earl Davis | ||||
| 2010 | Constance Hunter | |||||
| 2004 | Tony Girolami | |||||
| 2002 | Ayers Davies | Kay Davies |
2022 AWARD WINNERS:
2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner – John Mark Oebbecke
Mark joined the Ponce Inlet Lions Club in 2015 where, over the years, he became a Director and Vice President. For the last three years, he has been the director of their annual fundraising golf tournament. This year, along with his wife Pat, the tournament raised over $12,000 and is their largest fund-raising event. Soon after moving to Ponce Inlet, he volunteered at the lighthouse as a lighthouse keeper for about a year and a half. In doing so, Mark enjoyed learning about the history of Ponce Inlet and the impact volunteer citizens have made on this small community over the years.
Mark was a prior director and is now the Vice President of the Ponce Inlet Community Center. Working with the other volunteer board members, significant improvements have been made to the appearance of the center. This includes the installation of new ceiling tiles, new flower beds, and, thanks to the town’s funding, new restrooms and numerous other improvements. He is also currently responsible for securing rentals for the center that generate revenues to assist in covering the center’s operational costs.As a member and current secretary of the Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial Association, he assists with the annual Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies.
Mark joined the Ponce Inlet Lions Club in 2015 where, over the years, he became a Director and Vice President. For the last three years, he has been the director of their annual fundraising golf tournament. This year, along with his wife Pat, the tournament raised over $12,000 and is their largest fund-raising event. Soon after moving to Ponce Inlet, he volunteered at the lighthouse as a lighthouse keeper for about a year and a half. In doing so, Mark enjoyed learning about the history of Ponce Inlet and the impact volunteer citizens have made on this small community over the years.
Mark was a prior director and is now the Vice President of the Ponce Inlet Community Center. Working with the other volunteer board members, significant improvements have been made to the appearance of the center. This includes the installation of new ceiling tiles, new flower beds, and, thanks to the town’s funding, new restrooms and numerous other improvements. He is also currently responsible for securing rentals for the center that generate revenues to assist in covering the center’s operational costs.As a member and current secretary of the Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial Association, he assists with the annual Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies.
Most recently, he worked with other association members to transfer day-to-day maintenance of the memorial to the Town. If all that isn’t enough to recognize Mark’s volunteer work, he is currently a member of the Town’s Essential Services Board and serves as the Town’s representative on the Volusia County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The committee reviews all proposals, projects, and regulations related to pedestrian and bicycle activities. Mark is and has always been willing to help other Ponce Inlet organizations with any of their special events, and our town is fortunate to have such an adaptable and capable citizen volunteer.
In addition to his duties in Ponce Inlet, Mark had also found time to work as an editor of voice recordings at the Braille and Talking Book Library in Daytona Beach, which provides audio tapes for the visually impaired—a natural fit with the Lions. Along with his wife, Pat Morris, he is responsible for the food pantry at Longstreet Elementary School, which provides assistance for families struggling with food insecurities and is a 5th grade science teacher’s helper and mentor for 5th grade academically struggling students.Mark doesn’t want his name on the marquee out front of the community center to call attention to himself. He would rather have others acknowledged with the space available. He also knows there is so much more he wants to do to help keep Ponce Inlet the wonderful place he chose to call home.
Mark joined the Ponce Inlet Lions Club in 2015 where, over the years, he became a Director and Vice President. For the last three years, he has been the director of their annual fundraising golf tournament. This year, along with his wife Pat, the tournament raised over $12,000 and is their largest fund-raising event. Soon after moving to Ponce Inlet, he volunteered at the lighthouse as a lighthouse keeper for about a year and a half. In doing so, Mark enjoyed learning about the history of Ponce Inlet and the impact volunteer citizens have made on this small community over the years.
Mark was a prior director and is now the Vice President of the Ponce Inlet Community Center. Working with the other volunteer board members, significant improvements have been made to the appearance of the center. This includes the installation of new ceiling tiles, new flower beds, and, thanks to the town’s funding, new restrooms and numerous other improvements. He is also currently responsible for securing rentals for the center that generate revenues to assist in covering the center’s operational costs.As a member and current secretary of the Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial Association, he assists with the annual Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies.
Most recently, he worked with other association members to transfer day-to-day maintenance of the memorial to the Town. If all that isn’t enough to recognize Mark’s volunteer work, he is currently a member of the Town’s Essential Services Board and serves as the Town’s representative on the Volusia County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The committee reviews all proposals, projects, and regulations related to pedestrian and bicycle activities. Mark is and has always been willing to help other Ponce Inlet organizations with any of their special events, and our town is fortunate to have such an adaptable and capable citizen volunteer.
In addition to his duties in Ponce Inlet, Mark had also found time to work as an editor of voice recordings at the Braille and Talking Book Library in Daytona Beach, which provides audio tapes for the visually impaired—a natural fit with the Lions. Along with his wife, Pat Morris, he is responsible for the food pantry at Longstreet Elementary School, which provides assistance for families struggling with food insecurities and is a 5th grade science teacher’s helper and mentor for 5th grade academically struggling students.Mark doesn’t want his name on the marquee out front of the community center to call attention to himself. He would rather have others acknowledged with the space available. He also knows there is so much more he wants to do to help keep Ponce Inlet the wonderful place he chose to call home.
2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner – Tara Lamb
Tara Lamb has lived in Ponce Inlet since 1996 and has been actively involved in this community since 2001. Below is a list of some of her accomplishments over the years
.• 2001 to 2005 – Served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for the Friends of the Marine Science Center.
• 2002 to present – Tara has been on the Executive Board of Directors at our Lighthouse and currently serves as the President a very high honor.
• 2007 – When Tara was Vice President of the Davis House Historic Preservation, Inc. she wrote the Echo Grant totaling $223,000 for the restoration project at 143 Beach Street, our Town Museum.
• 2008 – Tara created for the Davis House Historic Preservation the Historic Biking and Walking Brochure for display at the Town Museum, the Lighthouse, the Speedway, and the Daytona Chamber of Commerce.
• 2009 to 2010 – Tara implemented the Longstreet Point of Light Garden for 4th grade students at Longstreet Elementary to restore the historic garden used by the light keepers at the Lighthouse.
• 2010 – Tara received the “In Recognition of Organizational Achievement” award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation of the Davis House for Historic Preservation for the restoration of 143 Beach Street.
• 2012 to 2017 – Tara served as the Chairperson of the Accession Committee of Ponce Inlet.
• 2014 to 2017 – Tara participated with Longstreet students in the Ponce Inlet Christmas parades.
• 2001 to the present – Tara has assisted with many of the Children’s Programs in Town. In addition to the many volunteer activities above, Tara began teaching at Longstreet Elementary School over 20 years ago and has helped to educate most of the children from Ponce Inlet over those years.Tara comments to her friends “ I don’t know why I am receiving this Lifetime Achievement Award, I believe I still have a lot of years left to volunteer and much more to give to our wonderful town”.
2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner - Alan Deke DiCostanzo
Deke moved to Ponce Inlet in 1994 with his wife, Janice. He commuted to Maitland and traveled nationally for his job through March 1999. Deke credits Janice with initiating his volunteer work in Ponce Inlet. He got his start by assisting with her volunteer projects whenever he could.
Although reluctant to join various clubs at the time, after retirement, Deke offered his help whenever it was needed.Along with his wife, they both became heavily involved in a variety of activities in town. Deke has always been seen quite happily working in the kitchen or on the grill for the Lions Club, the Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial Association, and the Ponce Inlet Community Center fund raisers. Similarly, he has enjoyed selling tickets, especially 50/50 at various events.
Deke says, “I am honored by this Citizens for Ponce Inlet Lifetime Achievement but I don’t really understand why I deserve it. I feel like I’ve been doing low-level volunteer work for a long time and have always been enthusiastic about it. I am unlikely to say ‘no’ when asked for help.