A sold-out crowd packed the Ocean City Yacht Club on Monday evening to honor Mike Dattilo as Citizen of the Year in Ocean City.
Dattilo will retire this year after more than 30 years working for the City of Ocean City, starting in beach fee operations and ultimately working his way up to business administrator, the top position among full-time city staffers.
He has volunteered with the Ocean City Youth Athletic Association for 40 years, and coached basketball, baseball and soccer. Dattilo is a founding member of the boards of trustees for the Friends of the Ocean City Pops and the Ocean City Theatre Company. He is a member of Ocean City Business and Neighborhood Development, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and First Night Ocean City.
Dattilo in some way has touched “every aspect of Ocean City,” emcee Michael Hartman said.
Mayor Jay Gillian presented Dattilo with a “nice big piece of the boardwalk,” ribbed his friend and colleague a bit, but thanked him for always being part of a group that “got things done.”
Chamber Executive Director Michele Gillian presented Dattilo with a beach chair for use on newly replenished beaches, a cell phone that he won’t have to answer and other gifts recognizing Dattilo’s service to the city.
In typically soft-spoken fashion, Dattilo said, “They completely disregarded my wishes, which is why I’m here.”
The lifelong resident of Ocean City offered a sampling of congratulatory messages from friends:
- “Citizen of the Year? Really? Are they running out of citizens?”
- “I thought to myself, ‘There must be another Mike Dattilo in Ocean City.’ “
- “I guess they wanted to make sure you really retired.”
“Really heart-warming stuff,” Dattilo said with a smile.
“I did it because I wanted to do it,” Dattilo said of his dedication. “It’s a great town.”
His recognition was part of the Citizen of the Year Award and Outstanding Business and Beautification Award, an annual event sponsored by the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The business awards were as follows:
- The Business Renovation and Improvement Award was presented to Domino’s Pizza, Island Gypsy, Gleeson’s, and Port-O-Call Hotel for their lobby renovations
- VFW Ferguson-Foglio Post 6650 received the Non-Profit Renovation Improvement Award for their 15th Street location renovations.
- Broadley’s and Sketties were awarded the Outstanding Landscaping/Signage Award.
- Ocean City Skateboard Park received the Business New Construction Award.
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Employees Patty Fraser, Heather Murray (at left) and Mary Ann DiMarco (second from right) accept an Outstanding New Business Award for the Spotted Whale, a coastal living gift shop at 943 Asbury Avenue. They’re pictured with Chamber President Bill McMahon, Cape May County Surrogate Sue Sheppard and Mayor Jay Gillian. The Outstanding New Business Award was presented to The Spotted Whale, The Taste of New York Café and Grille, and Golden Buddha.
- The Outstanding Civic, Community, Non-Profit Organization Award was presented to Humane Society of Ocean City and Ocean City Sailing Foundation.
- The Ocean City Free Public Library received the outstanding Use of Technology for their new Bookmobile.
- The Environmentally Friendly Award went to Tanner Mitzel and Boy Scout Troop 32 for the Eagle Scout Osprey Nest Platform Project.
- The Outstanding Service to the Community went to Ta-Dah.
- The Atlantic Shore baseball team received a special Community Recognition Award for winning the 2015 Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series.
- Special Awards were presented for milestone anniversaries. These businesses include: Island Grill – 20 years, Deauville Inn – 35 years, Scrim Discovery – 40 years, Jilly’s Arcade – 40 years, Bernie’s Barber Shop – 50 years, Colony Club – 65 years, Johnson’s Appliances – 70 years, Paramount Air Service – 70 years, Johnson’s Popcorn – 75 years, Gillian’s Amusements – 85 years, and Central Ocean City Union Chapel – 100 years.
