Mary DeFeudis: Philanthropist and Volunteer, Northborough

DeFeudis

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In 2005, with her children grown, Mary DeFeudis found herself in a transitional phase. In what she has called a life-changing experience, she learned of plans to restore the downtown Worcester property that now houses the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.

With a love for both the run-down building and its rich history, she joined Paul Demoga and Ed Madaus on the theater's board of directors, quickly becoming one of the key members who effectively raised millions in private contributions, twisting arms with charm. The effort raised the funds needed to finish the $31-million restoration project, which included bumping out the back of the building to provide enough stage space for Broadway productions.

The Hanover Theatre project was anything but easy because the 106-year-old structure had been abandoned for more than a decade and fallen into serious disrepair. But DeFeudis and her colleagues were undeterred, helping to add the finishing touches the day before Bernadette Peters took the stage, in 2008, for the Hanover's inaugural performance.

DeFeudis has shown the personal commitment to support a variety of non-profit causes in the Greater Worcester community, primarily in areas that benefit children and cancer research and improve the Central Massachusetts community. In recognition, she was named the 2010 Isaiah Thomas Award recipient.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, in honoring the Hanover Theatre, called it a "textbook case on how to bring a building — and a neighborhood — back to life." No doubt Mary DeFeudis helped write the textbook.

Tim Murray: President and CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce

William Manley: Founder and CEO, Calare Properties, Hudson

P. Kevin Condron: Chairman and CEO, The Granite Group LLC, Concord, N.H.

Ralph Crowley Jr.: CEO, Polar Beverages, Worcester

Clifford J. Schorer III: Board of Directors, Worcester Art Museum

Joseph Salois: CEO, Atlas Distributing Inc., Auburn

John Prosser: Chairman, Seven Hills Foundation, Worcester

James Paulhus: President and CEO, UniBank for Savings, Whitinsville

Charles Monahan: President, MCPHS University, Worcester

David ‘Duddie’ Massad: Chairman, Commerce Bank & Trust, Worcester

Gerald Fels: Trustee Emeritus, Nichols College, Dudley

Fred Eppinger: President and CEO, The Hanover Insurance Group