THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026 Page 7 The family of Katherine “Kathy” Penn honoring her as her new portrait gets displayed in the City Council Chambers; shown from left to right: Frank Mucci, Lyn Leonardo, Marcy Mucci and Brian Mucci. ing At-Large Councillors Michelle Kelley and Joanne McKenna and City Clerk Ashley Melnik, whom she identifi ed as the fi rst woman appointed city clerk in Revere. “As a woman serving on the City Council today, this moment is very special to me,” Guarino-Sawaya said. “These three women served at a time when women in government were still breaking barriers. They had the courage to step forward, take their seat at the table and make their voices heard.” “Because they did, women like me and my colleagues Michelle Kelly and Joanne McKenna were able to follow,” she said. The signifi cance of the portraits, she said, may become even clearer years from now when young residents visit City Hall. “And perhaps one of the most important parts of tonight will happen years from now when a young girl walks into these chambers, looks up at these walls and sees the faces of women among Revere’s leaders,” Guarino-Sawaya said. “Maybe she will look at Margaret, Elvira and Katherine and think, ‘Someday that could be me.’ That is why representation matters. And that is why remembering our history matters.” The ceremony brought together the O’Hara, Curcio and Penn families, who were thanked for sharing their relatives’ stories and service with the city. “To the O’Hara, CurThe family of Margaret O’Hara honoring her as her new portrait gets displayed on the wall at the City Council Chambers; from left to right: Paul Driscoll, Annette Driscoll, Erin O’Hara, Lynne O’Hara Caramello, Lauren O’Hara and Amy O’Hara. cio and Penn families, thank you for sharing these remarkable women with the city of Revere,” Guarino-Sawaya said. “Tonight, we make certain that their service, their courage and their contributions will always have a visible place in the chambers they helped shape.” Following the remarks, members of the City Council joined the families for photographs in front of the newly unveiled portraits, beginning with the O’Hara family before recognizing the Curcio and Penn families. Guarino-Sawaya closed the ceremony by saying the portraits would serve as a reminder of the progress Revere has made and the women who helped make that progress possible. “It is a tremendous honor to see Margaret O’Hara, Elvira Curcio and Katherine Penn’s rightful place on the walls of the Revere City Council Chambers,” she said. “May their portraits remind us of how far we have come, honor the women who helped to get us here and inspire the generations of women who will come after us.” Members of the Revere City Council are pictured with family members of the three honorees — Margaret O’Hara, Elvira Curcio and Katherine Penn — whose portraits are now displayed in honor of their service to the City of Revere as city councillors.
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