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2010 Sal LoBaido Volunteer Service Award
The Star Boreas in conjunction with the St. Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation, the proud producers of the St. Paul Winter Carnival are thrilled to honor...
Charlie Hall
Marilyn & Eugene DiMartino
2010 Sal LoBaido Volunteer Service Award Recipients
The Sal LoBaido Award, established by the Wintertainment Foundation, is awarded annually to a living or deceased Winter Carnival volunteer who has demonstrated, through action and word, a spirit or continual commitment to the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.
Charlie Hall
Charlie has been active serving on the boards of Lion's International, St. Paul Winter Carnival, Minnesota State Bowling Proprietors, Rotary International, the Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Hospitality Industry and is still active in these organizations.
Charlie was King Boreas in 1983 for the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Bill LaLonde was the Prime Minister for that year.
Bert McKasy and Bob Carter Jr., chairs of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, asked Charlie to design, locate, find funding and build an Ica Palace for Carnival's 100th year anniversary. As chairman he did just that - the 1986 Centennial Ice Palace on Lake Phalen. With almost ever tying being donated, this really was a labor of love for over 1,000 volunteers who made the dream a reality. It held The Guinness World record for tallest structure ever built out of ice.
On his own, Charlie designed and had built, all with donated money a 27 foot high granite monument to commemorate the 1986 Centennial Ice Palace and had etched in granite the names of all the contributors, laborers, business and organizers, then placed it in Phalen Park.
In 1988 Carnival President Joe Franzgrote asked Charlie to design, find a location, build and fund a Volcano for the St. Paul Winter Carnival. He did that with all volunteer help the Fire & Ice Palace on Harriet Island.
Charlies's hobbies are playing bridge, horseback riding, golfing, landscaping, and fishing. He also was presented with a Minnesota Bowling "Lifetime Achievement Award". He and his brother built Maplewood Bowl.
Charlie is a "Paul Harris Fellow" and was "Businessman of the Year" at the Moundsview and New Brighton Rotary.
Along with being a Master Mason he holds a 32nd degree in the Scottish rite.
Until retirement, Charlie owned and operated the Mermaid, one of the northwest's finest convention and event centers and an urban destination resort, which now flourishes under the management of his son Dan. For 17 years Charlie served his industry by being their registered lobbyist at the State Capitol. He was the first recipient of the Ruben A. Danhoff award for public policy and legislative service for his extensive legislative accomplishments in Minnesota.
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Eugene & Marilyn DiMartino
Eugene DiMartino became a Carnival enthusiast in the 1960's when he received his first Winter Carnival button as a Christmas gift. This one button "snowballed" into thousands, along with countless items of memorabilia. Eugene and Marilyn have spent many days, weekends and vacations traveling to small towns, flea markets, and antique shops always on the lookout for the rare piece or a missing button to add to his extensive collection.
Eugene and Marilyn have been volunteers, supporters and members of the Saint Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation for over 20 years. They are members of the revived King's Tax Collectors group (button sales) and in 2004 opened the first Saint Paul Winter Carnival Skyway Store which sold buttons and merchandise and as a result won the Top Seller award that same year. Eugene and Marilyn were co-chairs of the Tax Collectors in 2006 and 2007, Eugene as a member of the UGC Committee, and Marilyn was also responsible for the Queen of the Snows Candidates Button Sales and went along on all those frigid "Button Runs" on the Vulcan trucks.
Their proudest moments were felt as thousands of Winter Carnival attendees for all over the Twin Cities and even the world visited their Memorabilia exhibit each year where Eugene's extensive collection was on display in the Landmark Center and in earlier years at the RiverCentre.
The DiMartino's dedication is widespread throughout the Carnival organization including the hours spent in the Foundation office assisting with mailings, Marilyn's longtime membership in the Ambassadors organization, Decoration Chair for the Queen's Fashion Show and Royal Coronation and a 2009 Ice Block Contest Judge. Marilyn has also taken on the newest addition to the Foundation, the Junior Royalty, for the past two years. This is very dear to her heart as she was a member of the Junior Royalty court in 1954.
Eugene and Marilyn's volunteerism extends beyond the Winter Carnival into many other local organizations, including Saint Agnes School: Silent Auction/Dinner committee members, props designer, costume seamstress, dinner theatre co-chair for the yearly musicals, and hot lunch staff for several years. Marilyn was employed as Special Education faculty member at Monroe School for over 30 years of her volunteer project included Junior High Student Council Advisor, Yearbook Editor and Director, Talent Show Director (including sets and costumes), all musical productions, and Eighth grade graduation Director. Eugene was employed by Catholic Cemeteries for over 40 years and spent many hours working with the West 7th Street Boys Club. Eugene passed away on December 31, 2008 and is deeply missed by his daughters, Dana and Gina, as well as his grandchildren Megan, Anna, and Adam.
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