The Masters’ Association of Metal Finishing (MAMF) Annual Awards Celebration was held April 2, at the Chart House, Weehawken, NJ.
Lina De La Cruz and Robert Chabot, MAMF Vice President.With over 50+ attendees, this long- standing event drew participants from across the tri-state area to honor those that have created the legacy that has shaped the hundred plus year old MAMF.
“The evening was very special for our association,” says MAMF Vice President Bob Chabot noted. “We gathered to not only celebrate accomplishments, but also to pay tribute to a dear departed friend who meant so much to each of us individually and was a stalwart of the MAMF.”
The MAMF honored Past President Lina De La Cruz for her service as two term President of the MAMF. In addition, the MAMF awarded its first educational scholarship to Kayla Matari, whose grandmother is an employee of Little Falls Alloys in Patterson, NJ. Kayla received $2,500 towards her collegiate plans of becoming a nurse. The 2022 MAMF Scholarship is a significant award, given in honor of Stephen V. Candiloro, Jr. Stephen championed the importance and dedication to continued education in the metal finishing industry.
In addition, the MAMF posthumously presented Stephen V. Candiloro, Jr. the Claude Blaser Memorial Award, the highest Award of the MAMF and is presented rarely, only to that special person who has gone far beyond any other award given by the MAMF. An honoree of this award is someone whose lifetime accomplishments exceed the requirements of any award customarily bestowed by the MAMF. This award has only been presented four times in the history of the MAMF, previously presented to Jeff Hannapel, Bob Sica, David Norwine, and Herb Tilton.
Scholarship Winner Kayla Matari and MAMF Director Wasyl Bojczuk.“Giving out the Award with Bob to Dianne and family was very emotional to me,” says Paul Brancato, MAMF Past President and NASF Past President. “Having a number of key Epner employees really brought home to me all that JR meant to me and Epner as a whole. He is missed to this day almost two years later.”
The Claude Blaser Award was presented to Stephen “JR” Candiloro for his leadership, friendship, humility, and good fellowship to all surface finishers throughout his lifetime of service to the Masters’ Association of Metal Finishers and the Industry.
For more information about the MAMF and a full list of sponsors please visit www.metalfinishers.org.
