Since 1971, Medford Chamber of Commerce has been awarding, the Citizen of the Year (COTY) award to an individual in recognition of outstanding service to the Medford community and to the concern for its citizens.

This prestigious group of accomplished and dedicated individuals, give generously of their time and talent.

Tradition is that, each year, at our Annual Installation and Awards Banquet, the Citizen of the Year, is awarded a "Ship" award. This is seen as a distinguished honor.

All Citizen of the Year recipients become COTY Alumni, part of Medford COTY Alumni Association.  Domenic Camarra is the Chair for the Medford COTY Alumni Association.  Every year, the COTY Alumni Association awards two scholarships, the COTY Medford High $500 Scholarship and the COTY Medford Vocational High School $500 Scholarship at our Annual Installation and Awards Banquet.

Then, after our Annual Banquet, in a seperate, brief ceremony, at Medford City Hall, the name plate of the new Citizen of the Year is added to the COTY plaque on display at Medford City Hall.  The Citizen of the Year plaque contains all the names of past COTY recipients’ since 1971.

Citizen of the Year past recipients are:

1971: Roland G. Pothier
1972: Louis Risman
1973: Kenneth Ames
1974: Harry S. O’Brien, Sr .
1975: Dr. Salvatore R. Traina
1976: Thomas E. Convery
1977: Robert Thorson
1978: John D. Hand
1979: Muriel E. Morrisey
1980: Frank W. Marshall
1981: John A. Hackett
1982: David J. McGilvray
1983: Leslie B. Lewis
1984: Emily P. Flint
1985: John F. Zamparelli
1986: Daniel J. Bates
1987: John J. McGlynn
1988: Anthony Lucci
1989: Judge John J. Irwin, Jr .
1990: Marian Stokes
1991: Benjamin Averbook
1992: Rober t H. Surabian
1993: Laura F. Cronin
1994: Paul J. Donato
1994: Marty Mu rphy
1995: Dr. Joseph V. Valeriani
1996: Alfred P. Pompeo, Sr.
1997: Wallace H. Kountze
1998: Vincent Di Clemente
1998: Jerri Di Clemente
1998: Dr. Lorenzo Lepor e
1999: Annette J. Hunt
2000: Joseph E. Mahoney , Sr.
2001: George White
2002: Frederick N. Dello Russo, Sr .
2003: Linda Iannaccon e
2004: Rick Leary
2004: Rick Orlando
2004: Trish McDonough
2005: Michael Hayes
2006: Janice Byrnes
2006: Janice Iannessa
2006: Dorothy Newman -Burke
2007: May Marquebreuck
2008: John J. Lonergan, Sr.
2009: Domenic Camarra
2010: Marshall M. Sloane
2011: Robert  F. Rosselle
2012: Jack Dempsey
2013: Andrea Bates McGrath
2014: Chery l White
2015: Judy Lonergan
2016: Patrick Theberge
2017 Cheryl Delafano 
2018 John Costas

2019 Rose Mary Ardagna

2020 All COVID-19 First Responders

2021 Sam Tarabelsi

2022 Vinny Frattura