2019 Honoree

Dave & Sheila Monaghan

“The Mug” embodies the Norwood community ~ and the owners, Dave and Sheila Monaghan, are at the heart of it all.  Dave joined the Mug ‘n Muffin group in 1970, working in the first restaurant in Wollaston. He worked his way up, eventually becoming responsible for training new franchises and overseeing the dozen or so corporate owned stores.  As the company dissolved Dave seized the chance to purchase one of the restaurants, and lucky for us all he chose Norwood!

Since 1986 the Monaghans have been well known due to the Mug’s reputation for great food and community. Not just good hosts, Dave and Sheila are integral members of the community.  At the very first Norwood Day they kick started fundraising for the senior center by setting up a hot dog stand and got customers to run it while they stayed open. They are among the first to sponsor a team or school event such as the NHS cheerleaders trip to Nationals or Norwood High School’s Norwoodopoly, donate food to the Norwood Youth Football & Cheer snack shack, and hold annual spaghetti dinners for the Circle of Hope.

Lesser known are the quiet charitable acts Dave and Sheila regularly undertake. They forge lasting relationships with their customers and these connections allow them to have a real impact on the lives of individuals in need.  Aside from providing meals to those in need, Dave and Sheila have assisted residents financially and practically even finding housing and securing furniture for customers!     

Dave and Sheila have served generations of families and made lasting connections in Norwood. The Friends of St. Nick are honored to name Dave and Sheila Monaghan our 2019 People of the Year.