Della Casas honoured for commitment to community

Our family has won an award. Its the Chamber Of Commerce Lifetime Business Acheivment Award. The following article was from Friday's Cobourg Daily Star...

Della Casas honoured for commitment to community

The Della Casa family, owners of the Woodlawn Inn in Cobourg, are the recipients of this year's James Crossen Lifetime Achievement award. The family will receive the award officially at the Business Awards Gala on Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 at the Best Western Cobourg Inn and Convention Centre.

Gerda and Domenico Della Casa opened the Rendezvous restaurant in Baltimore in 1971. In 1986, they bought their present location, a Regency style building, and after extensive renovations opened it as a 12-room inn and 125-seat restaurant in 1988.

The couple are not quite as active in the daily operation of the business these days, relying on their son, Stephen, and daughter, Marisa, and her husband, John Sampogna, to run it.

Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce past-president Rob Boycott, who presented the award to Domenico, Gerda and Stephen Della Casa Wednesday afternoon (Marisa was absent), said the award "recognized the family had done something special for the community." He mentioned that the inn has been a regular employer and noted the family's contributions to worthy causes.

For more than 30 years the inn has hosted fundraising dinners in aid of Amnesty International. The Salvation Army has received homemade soup from the Woodlawn for many years.

During the past few years, the inn has sponsored a yearly luncheon in support of the Northumberland United Way, with all proceeds going to the organization.

Mr. Boycott also mentioned that Stephen Della Casa was instrumental in helping to brand Cobourg as a wellness destination.

This is the third year the Lifetime Achievement award has been given out. Previous recipients are the Behan family, and Jack Russell and Limpact International.

The criteria for picking the winners -- this year there were 27 nominees -- is based on the track record of James Crossen. He opened a small foundry in Cobourg that later became the Crossen Car Manufacturing Company of Cobourg, one of the largest independent manufacturers of railway cars. From 1866 to 1915 the company prospered, at one point employing more than 400 people. Nominees are also judged on their long-term commitment to the community and its improvement.

Along with the James Crossen award, 13 other awards will be presented at the gala.