Somersworth Citizen, Business Honorees Named

Foster's Daily Democrat
March 19, 2004

By JEREMIAH ROOD
Somersworth Bureau Chief

From left are Chamber President Gerry Gilbert, Madeline and Bob Greenleaf, the owners of the Gateway Restaurant, named Somersworth Business of the Year, and Eric Mommsen, the Citizen of the Year.

SOMERSWORTH — About 50 people turned out Thursday night to learn the winners of the Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year awards from the Greater Somersworth Chamber of Commerce.

Eric Mommsen was selected as Somersworth’s Citizen of the Year. Mommsen, a grade 3 teacher at the Maplewood School, was given the award in recognition of the work he does in the community.

The event, aptly enough, took place at the Gateway Restaurant, which received the Business of the Year award. Bob Greenleaf, owner of the restaurant for the past 10 years, accepted the award.

Local residents Clyde Coolidge and Florence Chasse received lifetime achievement awards at the event.

The event drew a crowd of elected and appointed officials, interested citizens and chamber members.

Mommsen, 36, said he was very honored to be named Citizen of the Year.

Following the ceremony, Mommsen listed off some of the activities he is involved with — including the Somersworth Historical Society, a variety of local sports programs, Somersworth Children’s Fest, the Holy Trinity Church and the Somersworth Lion’s Club.

Mommsen brought his mother, Carolyn, to the event.

"All my children have brought me great happiness," Carolyn Mommsen said.

The family has spent nearly 25 years in the city of Somersworth.  "Eric ... hates all the hoopla," she explained. "He’s very modest."  Chasse, herself a Lifetime Achievement Award winner, said Mommsen is "so worthy of it," she said. "He does so much for the community and the school. …He does so many things. I’m so happy he won."  Chasse has nominated Mommsen for the past three years for the award. This year Mommsen was nominated by Mayor Jim McLin.

Mommsen was selected out of a group that included eight other nominees to win the award, including Chasse, McLin, David Pratt, Lillian Roberge, George Poulin, Clyde Coolidge, Clair Snyder and City Councilor Sherie Dinger.

"All these people are so deserving," said Chamber President Gerry Gilbert. "So many people give so much it’s (amazing.)"

"We don’t do it for recognition," Chasse explained. "We see a need and we try to fill it."
The Gateway Restaurant is also involved in various community organizations including the Somersworth and Rochester Rotary, the Greater Somersworth Chamber of Commerce and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association.

The restaurant has made food contributions to the Soup Pantry, Moharimet School, Lee Fire Department and the Barrington Elementary School. It donates money to the Good Shepherd’s School, the Humane Society, Babe Ruth baseball and many other local sports teams.

Two other businesses were nominated along with Gateway for the award: Coolidge Professional Associates and the Paperback Bazaar.