The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay honored two of its own with community service awards at the organization’s annual meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Goethe-Institut Boston.
Martyn Roetter, a NABB board member for the past 15 years, was the recipient of this year’s Paul Prindle Community Leadership Award for displaying “important and sustained leadership in promoting residential interests in the Back Bay.”
Roetter, who served as NABB’s board chair for two stints, from 2017-2020 and again from 2023-2025, has been an active member of NABB’s Green Committee for more than 10 years. He has also served as a member of the Alliance of Downtown Civic Organizations (ADCO) for 15 years.
Warren Johnson, a NABB board member since 1976, was the recipient of this year’s Mary Natale Community Service Award in recognition of his “significant and sustained dedication and service to the residential interests of the Back Bay and, in particular, unselfish and unheralded commitment to the community.”
Johnson served as president of the Back Bay Federation, when that group erected the Samuel Elliot Morrison statue in 1982. He was also instrumental in NABB’s reorganization around 1981-1982, writing the bylaws that allowed for its transition from a small, narrowly focused group to a larger organization with impactful committees.
In 2006, Johnson established NABB’s Portfolio/Endowment and also the organization’s Finance Committee, which guides the organization’s investment management process. He continues to lead both of these efforts for NABB.
District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn and District 8 City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who were on hand for the annual meeting, presented Roetter and Johnson both with Official Resolutions from the city in recognition of their respective achievements.
Requests for nomination for the awards were solicited from all NABB members via the NABB e-News, the NABB board, and nomination requests published in the local papers, including this one. An eight-member ‘Special Awards’ committee then selected this year’s award winners from dozens of nominations received.
