MONROE, CT — Longtime Town Councilman Sean O’Rourke headlined the annual Republican Town Committee Lincoln-Reagan Dinner as the 2025 Republican of the Year at Testo’s Restaurant last Friday evening, on a night when Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Michael O’Reilly received the Kay Antrim Lifetime Achievement Award and Board of Finance Chair Rebecca O’Donnell was recognized as the Rising Republican Star.
A dedication to public service was a consistent theme throughout the event, and thoughts of Town Councilman Vincent “Vin” Duva, last year’s Rising Star award winner, who is recovering from serious surgeries, were in everyone’s hearts.
Among the local dignitaries, State Sen. Jason Perillo, R-21st, and State Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe, presented a citation from the Connecticut Legislature to each of the night’s honorees.
First Selectman Terry Rooney, who gave the benediction, congratulated O’Rourke, O’Donnell and O’Reilly.
Rooney praised O’Donnell for stepping up in her first year as chair of the Board of Finance amid a difficult budget year with a state-mandated revaluation impacting local taxes.
“She handled it with grace, with dignity and had respect for other people on the board,” he said. “She did a fantastic job. You deserve this Becky and congratulations.”
The first selectman praised O’Reilly, a retired obstetrician, for his kindness and dedication of his time and medical experience to the town.
“There have been significant challenges on the Planning and Zoning Commission and he has found his way through,” Rooney said. “Mike is a committed public servant, a fantastic human being, a friend to all and a true gentleman.”
Rooney served alongside O’Rourke on the Town Council and the RTC’s vacancy committee for many years.
“A lot of great decisions were made and the town is better for it,” Rooney said, before turning to his predecessor, former first selectman, Ken Kellogg, and adding, “thank you Ken, for supporting Sean and I in doing what we wanted to do. We are a team. We make the best decisions for our town always. Sean you deserve this award.”
Mentoring future generations
Sean O’Rourke and his wife Susan lived in Monroe for 27 years, raising their two daughters, Shana and Sarah, here. He served in the U.S. Navy as an ensign and sailed with the Exxon Oil Company and Coastal Marine before being hired as a shipbroker for Jim Weinberg, an influential Monroe Republican, in 1994 — first at Safe Harbour Tanker Chartering and currently for Clarksons Shipping Services.
While introducing O’Rourke Friday night, Weinberg recalled his strong work ethic. O’Rourke credits Weinberg for sparking his involvement in town politics.
One day, O’Rourke said he was complaining about how things were being run, when Weinberg surprised him by saying, “okay, what are you gonna do about it?” “My jaw dropped slack,” O’Rourke recalled with a smile.
In 2009, O’Rourke was elected as an alternate member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, then went on to run for the Town Council, where he is a former vice chairman.
He said Kevin Reid, a fellow Town Council member, is a big influence and an invaluable resource. Together on the Council, O’Rourke said he, Reid and Rooney referred to themselves as the firm of Rooney, Reid & O’Rourke.
“Together, the firm accomplished a lot on Town Council,” O’Rourke said.
O’Rourke has been involved in successful political campaigns and, while serving as a former chair and current member of the RTC, he helps recruit new volunteers to serve on town boards and commissions. O’Rourke is known for mentoring younger talent.
“The hardest and easiest part of the role is simply letting talented people do what they do best,” O’Rourke said. “I would like to believe I was successful in helping other people run with their talents. Thank you to those who mentored me along the way and continue to do so.”
O’Rourke thanked and praised Kellogg, who he called one of Monroe’s best first selectmen, congratulated past and future award winners, and recognized all of those who volunteer their time to the town.
“Volunteerism is the common thread that binds all of us together in this room tonight,” he said. “Volunteering has given all of us an opportunity to make a positive impact on the direction of this community. There are very few instances that are more gratifying than seeing your sweat equity result in a positive outcome.”
‘Our greatest gift’
Michael O’Reilly and his wife, Jane, moved from Shelton to Monroe in 2002. He is the father of Gabrielle Soak and Keira O’Reilly and stepfather to Sarah Novia, Rebecca Brindley and Judy Sinadeanowsky. He has three grandchildren: Ben, Evan, Wyatt and Daisey Maeve.
A distinguished academic and medical professional, O’Reilly had served as chairman of the OB/GYN Department at Griffin Hospital for two decades.
Perillo presented O’Reilly’s citation.
“When I met Mike O’Reilly, I had no idea he had anything to do with politics,” Perillo said. “I thought he was just this doctor. But 11 years ago, he gave us our greatest gift, it was our daughter. Just an amazing man and I am so grateful for, not just what you do for Monroe, but what you did for us.”
In Monroe, he chaired the Conservation and Water Resources Commission and was instrumental in producing the town’s first open space map. O’Reilly still serves as chairman of the Open Space Acquisition Committee.
At St. Peter’s Grace Episcopal Church, O’Reilly serves as a eucharistic minister and junior warden.
While accepting the 2025 Kay Antrim Lifetime Achievement Award, O’Reilly recalled the time then-First Selectman Ken Kellogg created the Monroe Health Department after the town broke off from a joint health district with the town of Trumbull.
Kellogg, who O’Reilly calls his “greatest mentor,” asked him to serve as the new department’s medical advisor. It was around this time that O’Reilly told Kellogg he wanted to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
“He just smiled and the next thing you know, I’m on the commission,” O’Reilly said. “Pat O’Hara, as many of you remember, was the chairman at the time. He later told me he made quite a fuss about that. He said, ‘I don’t want that damn O’Reilly on my commission, that tree hugger. He’s just gonna block this and block that.'”
“I had known Pat going way back. I knew his bark was worse than his bite,” O’Reilly said. “But he still put me way at the end on the dais, as far away from him as he could. Slowly, I moved my way up to take over his seat.”
Bruno Maini, who serves as vice chairman of the commission, introduced O’Reilly Friday. He described him as a dear friend, someone he looks up to and as a chairman who never gets flustered.
“Mike is the first chairman I served under who cares what you say,” Maini said. “He constantly talks to you. He constantly puts you first in line. It doesn’t matter if you’re an alternate. It doesn’t matter if you’re a full seat. It doesn’t matter if you’re the vice chair or the secretary. Everyone holds the same regard under Mike — and that’s unheard of. This is an amazing human being.”
Maini recalled the passing of the commission’s previous chairman, William Porter. Fellow commissioners organized a weekly dinner to support Porter’s family.
One day when commissioners were doing a site walk on a property, O’Reilly walked up to Maini and said, “take this. Give it to the Porter family and don’t let anybody know.”
“Unfortunately Mike, I went back on my word. I let everybody know,” Maini said. “You’re an amazing human being. You’re an amazing man. No one else did that. You went above and beyond — above and beyond everyone else. And I thank you for that and Bill Porter’s family thanks you for that.”
“Mike O’Reilly doesn’t care about what party or who you are,” Maini said. “Mike O’Reilly cares about the right and the just — and that’s what Mike O’Reilly is, the right and the just.”
The Rising Star
Rebecca O’Donnell has over 25 years of expertise in procurement, supply chain management and organizational excellence. She has held several roles in corporate leadership and is currently a U.S. operations leader at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
O’Donnell and her husband, Tim, live in Monroe and have two adult children, Riley and Kaelly.
Her involvement in town began through volunteering for activities at her children’s schools. She joined the Board of Finance in 2019, and took on the leadership role this year, when its longtime chairman, Michael Manjos, moved.
O’Donnell was introduced by the Board of Finance Vice Chair Katherine Stauffer.
“Rebecca, I just have the highest respect for you and I have learned so much from you,” Stauffer said, praising her for stepping into the role of chair. “Just the respect you gave the role was inspiring and I’m just so proud to have gone through it with you, so congratulations.”
O’Donnell said she was honored by the recognition and overwhelmed with gratitude. She thanked her family and friends for their encouragement and sacrifices, which allowed her to pursue her passion of public service.
She said Rooney, Finance Director Ronald Bunovsky Jr., Deputy Finance Director Heidi Meade and Town Council Chairman Jonathan Formichella gave her valuable guidance. She also expressed her gratitude to Stauffer for her job as vice chair and their “fantastic friendship.”
“Giving back to my community started at a young age, inspired by the incredible example my mom set for me and my sisters,” O’Donnell said. “So for years we watched her pour her heart into helping others and showing us that acts of kindness and time can ripple into something truly meaningful.”
“Because of her, I learned that service isn’t just an obligation, it truly is a privilege, and one that I have carried forward and I hope my kids will too into their adulthood,” she added.
“So for me, this is more than recognition, it’s a reminder of why we do what we do,” O’Donnell said. “It reaffirms my commitment to continue giving my time, my expertise and my energy to the community that has shaped me and my family.”
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