BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — The Boca Raton Historical Society capped off a year of centennial celebrations with a sold-out Walk of Recognition event on December 2 at The Addison, honoring 25 community leaders whose work helped shape the city in the early 2000s.
The evening marked one of the final cultural milestones of Boca Raton’s 100th anniversary year and included the unveiling of an all-new Centennial Plaque at Mizner Plaza, recognizing the “Luminaries of the 2000s” as a collective class.
“The Walk of Recognition has always been about celebrating those who make Boca Raton a better, stronger, more vibrant place,” said Mary Csar, executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society. “This Centennial class reflects the tremendous growth, innovation, and generosity that defined the 2000s — and it was an honor to recognize them in such a meaningful way.”
The 2025 honorees are: Kathy and Paul Adkins; Angelo Bianco; Barbara Cambia; Mary Csar; Robin Deyo; Jerry Fedele; Summer Faerman; Susan Gillis; Dan Guin and Jane Tyree; Dean Michael Horswell, PhD; Mark Larkin; Zoe Lanham; Troy McLellan; George Petrocelli; Gary Peters; Dr. Jon Robertson; Charlotte and Morris Robinson; Carrie Rubin; Michelle Rubin; the Rev. Andrew Sherman; Tim Snow; and Marie Speed.
Their names will now be permanently included on the new Centennial Plaque at Mizner Plaza in Royal Palm Place, joining the existing engraved granite stars that have become a familiar landmark honoring past Walk of Recognition recipients. The plaque is positioned as a tribute to a transformative era that helped propel Boca Raton into its second century.
The program was hosted by WPBF-TV’s Jade Jarvis, whose on-air presence carried over into the room as she guided guests through introductions, tributes, and the formal recognition of the 25 honorees. Attendees included city officials, community leaders, past inductees, and longtime supporters of the Boca Raton Historical Society and The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum.
One of the evening’s standout moments centered on Marta Batmasian, the visionary who created the Walk of Recognition program in 1997 and has supported it for nearly three decades. The Historical Society paid tribute to her role in launching and sustaining the tradition, which was designed to spotlight civic leadership, philanthropy, and community service in a lasting, public way.
In recognition of that work and her broader influence on the city, BRHS presented Batmasian with her own engraved granite star on the Walk of Recognition. The gesture tied the Centennial class back to the program’s roots and to the original idea of honoring people whose efforts often play out behind the scenes but have visible impact across Boca Raton.
The setting added another layer to the centennial theme. The event took place at The Addison, itself celebrating its 100th anniversary, giving guests a backdrop that reflected the city’s historic architecture and its evolution over the last century. The combination of a historic venue, a centennial year, and a class focused on the 2000s framed the night as both a look back and a nod to the city’s next chapters.
Established in 1997, the Walk of Recognition honors individuals and organizations whose service and generosity have significantly enhanced the community. Traditionally, honorees receive engraved granite stars at Mizner Plaza in Royal Palm Place. This year’s Centennial class marks the first time a collective plaque has been added to the installation, setting the 2000s group apart within the long-running program.
The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, home of the Boca Raton Historical Society, anchors that work year-round by collecting, preserving, and sharing stories that define the city’s past and help guide its future. The museum operates out of Historic Town Hall at 71 N. Federal Highway and is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For BRHS, the Centennial Walk of Recognition served as both a celebration and a closing chapter for the city’s 100th anniversary year, with the new plaque and star installation leaving a permanent mark in Mizner Plaza long after the centennial banners come down.
