“Esther Quinn was a pioneer and a passionate advocate for causes that she believed in. She was an outstanding individual who stood out amongst her peers,” Denise Richardello said to an audience of over 100 people at the Berkshire Hills Country Club on April 25th of last year, “I am so proud to be a recipient of the Esther Quinn Award.” Richardello of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, along with fellow 1Berkshire Board member Linda Gaspardi Febles of MountainOne, were awarded the 18th Esther Quinn Award for community service.
1Berkshires is honored to be able to present this award on behalf of such a strong Berkshire change-agent each year to a local recipient who embodies all the qualities that Quinn held so dear and worked so tirelessly for. Nominations are open for the 2018 Esther Quinn Award and will be accepted until March 23, 2018. If you would like to be considered or know of someone who should be please apply
Every year since 1999, people from around the Berkshires gather for the annual Esther Quinn award ceremony to celebrate the life of Quinn. Quinn was active with many organizations throughout the Berkshires. She was a member of the Berkshire County Board of Realtors and was the top Century 21 agent in all of Western Massachusetts several times. Her help in bringing people together to strengthen and serve the community, to which she gave much of her spare time, was evident in her efforts throughout the region. Her compassion for the Berkshires is still bringing people together to celebrate the hard work of our community advocates year after year.
“She started her career working at the General Electric, moved on to the Berkshire County Board of Realtors where she was for 20 years. She served as the president in 1985…was recognized as a woman of achievement in 1987 by the Berkshire Business and Professional Women’s organization, an active member of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce for many of years and started the business after hours,” said Mick Callahan, a recipient of the award in 2003. Callahan was so moved by the award that he has remained involved in the award for more than a decade as a member of the Steering Committee.
The 19th annual Esther Quinn Award will be given out at our Good News Business Salute at Berkshire Hills Country Club on April 18th at 7:30 am. To join us for the award ceremony please purchase your tickets in advance.
