Service Above Self Honorees:

Peter Bovenzi:

A life-long resident of the region, Peter Bovenzi was educated in Leominster schools and graduated from UMASS Amherst.  He founded Bovenzi Inc.—a real estate and property management company--with his brother Frank in 1981.  While building his business, he has worked tirelessly to build his community as well.  For the past twenty years, Bovenzi and his family have given countless hours of their time and resources to many charitable efforts—primarily in the areas of education, homelessness and land conservation.  Bovenzi has donated two shelters for area homeless.  In 1994, under the direction of State Representative Emile Goguen, Bovenzi established the Norman Valiton Homeless Shelter in Fitchburg and in 2000 established the Multi Service Centers Mount Pleasant Place Transitional House in Leominster.  He has served on boards for the Nancy Patch Home, Children's Aid and Family Services and the City of Leominster's Affordable Housing and Growth Management Committees.  His conservation efforts are equally impressive:  In 1998 he received the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Drinking Water Protection Award for his work protecting the City of Leominster's reservoir system.  He is the founder and treasurer of the Leominster Land Trust and served on the Nashua River Watershed Association.  He serves on the boards of the Monty Tech Business Education Enrichment Fund, the Fitchburg State College Foundation and serves as Chairman of the Our Father's House Annual Fund Drive.  He is the Co-Chairman of the United Way's Alexis de Tocqueville Society and is Chairman of the United Way's Building and Community Development Committee. 

Tuck Nichols:

A Gardner High School graduate, Tuck Nichols went on to Syracuse University and received his MBA from Pace University.  As president and CEO of Nichols and Stone he has helped  thousands of Gardner students achieve their dream of attaining a college education through his stewardship of the Stone Fund.   This fund has awarded scholarships to Gardner students every year since 1948.  He is an enthusiastic supporter of his community through the United Way and also serves on the Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation Board and the Board of Incorporators of Heywood Hospital.  He is a past trustee of Heywood Hospital and Past Director of the Gardner Chamber of Commerce.  He also established the Liz Nichols Foundation, in memory of his wife, which raises money for counseling, care and research for breast cancer.  He was awarded with the Sentinel Award for Political Action and has met with both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. 

Justice Luis Perez:

Justice Luis G. Perez, was recently awarded the 2001 Public Service Award for his lifelong commitment to social justice by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette Visions Program.  Perez has been widely recognized for his involvement in significant and continuous efforts to serve the growing and diverse Latino community for the past 30 years as well as for distinguished service dedicated to improving the quality of life for children.

A native of Puerto Rico, Perez moved to Worcester at age 10.  He graduated from St. Peter High School.  He went on to Assumption College and received his law degree from Suffolk University.  He became the first Puerto Rican attorney to practice law in Worcester.  While practicing law, he continued his community service efforts serving on the Board for the United Way, Legal Services of Central Massachusetts, Human Rights Commission, the Worcester Bar Association and Centro Las Americas--to name a few.  In 1987, Judge Perez became the first Puerto Rican to be appointed to the bench in Massachusetts.  He has continued his commitment to advocating and promoting children's rights and services.  He is the recipient of many honorary degrees in recognition for his work with children and families in the juvenile justice system.  He has been invited to conduct lectures in Chile, Colombia, El Salvador and Spain on Juvenile Justice Reforms.  In 1999—with Congressman James P. McGovern--Judge Perez developed the Worcester Working Coalition for Latino Students.  Its sole mission is to improve the educational opportunities for Latino students.