Bridgewater Native Named Outstanding Citizen of the Year

Bridgewater, NJ – Bridgewater native Michael V. Camerino, Esq. has given back not only locally but to the nation practically his entire life. So it was only natural he would be selected as the 66th Somerset County Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

“I am humbled by it and very grateful to the people who thought I was deserving of this award.,” Camerino told Patch.

The Outstanding Citizen is the county’s most prestigious individual reward for community and business activities, awarded to one person who has done the most to make Somerset County a special place annually.

Camerino will be honored at a dinner reception on Thursday, May 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bridgewater Marriott, 700 Commons Way in Bridgewater.

As a humble individual, Camerino said he would only accept the award if he was able to share it with organizations who he has worked with.

He served as a member of the Somerset County Unit of the American Cancer Society Board of Directors; Chairman of the Somerset Raritan Exchange Club; and board member of the Care to Share Support Network. Currently he serves as trustee of the K-9 Soldiers Board; vice-president of the Central Jersey Housing Resource Center; and member of the Business Partnership participating on the Sustainability and Legislative Affairs committees.

“A lot of things I have done and did over the many years for charitable organizations, community or business have to do with other people who started and initiated and I just went along with it,” Camerino said. “I lended some support. Without those organizations I wouldn’t have the resume to be the community volunteer I am today.”

He also thanks his Somerville law firm of Mauro, Savo, Camerino, Grant & Schalk, P.A. who have also given back to the community in many ways such as with Habitat for Humanity.

Camerino has lived in Somerset County for 28 years and is a Bridgewater native. He has been giving back to the community well before then as he is a veteran who served in Vietnam.

He has been a strong advocate for and contributor to the two visits of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute to North Branch Park in Bridgewater.

His sense of community can really be linked back to his parents Hamlet and Sophie.

“I’ve always had a sense of duty or responsibility, got that from my parents, espically my mom,” Camerino said. ”I grew up in Elizabeth in an Italian neighborhood where family and social obligation were important. I had an opportnity to serve with my church and serve in the military. I’ve been fortunate enough to continue that since starting my career as an attorney.”

Reservations for the dinner are available at $110 for Business Partnership members and their guests and $150 for non-members if paid for by Friday, April 29. Reservations may be made by calling the Business Partnership at 908-218-4300 or ordering online at http://bit.ly/2016citizen. Deadline for reservations is Monday, May 2.

The Business Partnership provides an opportunity to congratulate the recipient with an advertisement in the Awards Journal. Information on the ad journal is available online at http://bit.ly/2016citizen-ad or by calling 908-218-4300.