Theresa S. Brungardt was a pioneer and outstanding leader of parks and recreation in Vermont. She began her career in 1917 when she joined the staff of the National Recreation Association during World War 1. She was Vermont’s first state Director of
Recreation, having been appointed by Governor Wills in 1943. She traveled tirelessly throughout Vermont to help communities with their recreation programs. Many of the community recreation departments today could trace their origins back to technical assistance and inspiration provided by Mrs. Brungardt. She was nationally recognized for her expertise and in 1952 was elected the first female president of the American Recreation Society. Her involvement continued after her retirement in 1964 when she was an active member of the Citizens Board Member Branch of NRPA. She was inducted into the NRPA Hall of Fame in 1997.
1975 Viva Whitney - Rutland
1976 John W. Cioffredi - Rutland
1977 Frank Dearborn - Brattleboro
1978 Ardis Smith - Weston
1979 Betty Kodess - Woodstock
1980 Stewart Allen - New York
1981 Edward Koenemann - Montpelier
1982 Perry Merrill - Montpelier
1983 George Plumb - Washington
1984
1985 Bruce O’Neill - South Burlington
1986
1987 George Gammal - Essex Junction
1988 Bernard Thorn - Brattleboro
1989 Raymond Tanguay – Burlington
1990 Clint Martin - Springfield
1991 Donald Lorinovich - Montpelier
1992 Catherine DeLeo - St. Johnsbury
1993 Robert Riley - Middletown Springs
1994 Betsy Terry Orselet - Colchester
1995 David Neil - Essex Junction
Joseph Pello – Bennington
Nelson Withington - Brattleboro
Dr. Henry Farmer - So. Burlington
Bill & Ethel Scheule - So. Burlington
Gertrude Mallary - Fairlee
Helen Lawrence - Jericho
Frank Teagle - Woodstock
Ed Colvin - Shaftsbury
Mary Ann Batcheller - Bethel
Allen Sher - Rutland
Erma Puffer - Vernon
Senator Patrick Leahy
Ben Rose – Burlington
Steve Bushey -Stowe
Charlene McCarty
Joy McKenna
Anne Lusk - Stowe
David Taplin -Strafford
Tony Clark - Goshen
Raymond Ladue - Newport District
Mary Anne Gucciardi - S. Burlington
Brian Busier - Hinesburg
1996 Tom Hubbard - South Burlington
1997 Harry Corrow - Newport
1998
1999 John Tad Nunez - Hartford
Buzz Hoerr - Colchester
Ardis Smith - Weston
Fletcher Brush - Middlebury
Dr. Gould Susslin - St. Albans
2000
2001
Denise Albert Clavette - Essex Jct. Peggy Coutu - Shelburne
Tim Smith – St. Albans
2002 Maggie Leugers - Burlington Congressman Bernard Sanders
2003 Bruce Amsden - Dept. of FPR Steven Edgerley – Newport
2004 Carol Hartshorn - Green Mt. College Lenore Budd – South Burlington
2005
2006
Stephanie Quaranta - Barre
Mark Berry – Essex
Paul Moffat – Shelburne & Orleans
Karen & Bill Johnson – Stockbridge
2007 Carol Lolatte - Brattleboro
City of Newport
Woodstock Recreation
Town of Vernon
VT Council on the Arts
Montgomery Rec. Com.
VT Special Olympics
Town of Shaftsbury
City of St. Albans
Brattleboro Retreat
Green Mountain Club
Nature Conservancy-VT Chapter
VT Association of Snow Travelers
St. Albans Bay Town Park Comm.
Winooski Valley Park District
Burlington Parks & Rec Path Project
Ben & Jerry’s Corporation
So. Burlington Rec Path Committee
Essex Junction School District
Vermont Land Trust
Assoc. of VT Conservation Commissions
VT Gov. Council on Phys. Fitness & Sports
VT Youth Conservation Corps
The Great Escape
Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green Comm.
VT Housing & Conservation Board
Catamount Trail Association
Colchester Triathlon Committee
Burlington Community Gardens
2008 Todd Goodwin – South Burlington
2009 Donna Diaz - Special Olympics, VT
2010 Jennifer Ely- WVPD
2011 Cindi Wight – Rutland
2012 Glen Cuttitta - Colchester
2013 Jim Hilton – Newmarket, NH
Doug MacDougall – Weston, MA
2014 Craig Whipple – VT State Parks
Bob Willey – Essex
Mike Welch – St. Johnsbury
Rotary Club of Manchester
Rutland Kiwanis
Dick Nordmeyer – Castleton Catamount Family Ctr.- Williston
Bridget Meyer – Essex Junction St. Johnsbury Academy
Wendy Johnson – Essex Junction
Shelley Lutz – Rutland
Green Mtn Rock Climbing/ VT Adven. Tours
Muriel More – South Burlington
John & Jane Ewing – Burlington VT Senior Games Association
Anyone can make nominations and recipients do not need to be members of VRPA. For nomination criteria contact the
Vermont Recreation and Parks Association at 802-878-2077, betsy@vrpa.org or 721 Main Street, Colchester, VT 05446.