WestConn Society Luncheon to honor Danbury’s Tom Devine

Local restaurateur active in downtown, heads CityCenter

DANBURY, CONN. —When it comes to the recent years of revitalization and development of the Danbury business community, Tom Devine has been at the center of it all. As chairman of the board of CityCenter since 2009, Devine has owned and managed restaurants in the downtown area for the better of 35 years and made major contributions to the city’s growth.

The owner of Two Steps restaurant and Ciao! Catering and Events, Devine has also worked hard to bring the community together by helping organize a variety of events from chili cook-offs to road races. His many contributions and volunteer efforts have helped give the downtown an exciting new face and that energy has spread to the WCSU campus community and beyond.

Devine is being honored with the WCSU Foundation’s Community Service Award for his commitment to Danbury at the 33rd annual WestConn Society Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 21, 2014, at the Ethan Allen Hotel,
21 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The WCSU Foundation, established in 1971, is dedicated to raising and managing donations for the university and its students.

“Like downtown Danbury, WCSU has a major economic presence and has been an integral part of the region’s development,” Devine said. “It continuously draws students from the area, but also has continued to grow and develop its various programs so as to attract students from all over, making its mark as a competitive public university.”

In addition to his CityCenter leadership, Devine has served on the center’s board since 1993. He has also served on the Parking Authority Board of Directors from 1992-96 and continues to raise money through his businesses for numerous area non-profit agencies.

CityCenter was established in 1988 by a vote of downtown property owners. The one square-mile district in the heart of downtown includes 215 parcels owned by 150 property owners who pay a modest special assessment over and above their regular real estate property taxes. These special tax revenues generate about of $170,000 annually that is earmarked for downtown revitalization programs, special services and capital improvements.

Devine and his wife, Susan, will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this year. They have two daughters: 11-year-old Ava and her older sister, Kayte, who works for her parents as their director of catering and social meetings.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the luncheon, contact Sue Wolf in the WCSU Office of Institutional Advancement at wolfs@wcsu.edu or (203) 837-8279.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics
of New England’s best small private universities.