Tewksbury, MA Finest: Honoring the 2025 Civil Servant of the Year Awardees

On August 16, 2025, Veterans and First Responders Ministry, Inc. held its first-ever Civil Servants Day: Touching Souls at Tewksbury United Methodist Church—a moving tribute to the courage and commitment of local heroes and exemplary citizens. The celebration featured outdoor festivities and culminated in a special indoor ceremony presenting the Civil Servant of the Year award. Details of the honorees are listed below:

 Officer Dennis Kelleher — Heroic Action Award
When a residential fire tore through a Tewksbury home earlier this year, Officer Dennis Kelleher didn’t wait for backup. He ran directly into the smoke-filled structure, rescuing trapped residents and saving multiple lives before fire crews arrived. His bravery was described by local coverage as “nothing short of heroic.”
But Kelleher’s impact goes far beyond emergency response. He’s a devoted husband, father, and volunteer soccer coach—known for his quiet leadership and unwavering dedication to building a more united, compassionate town. Whether mentoring kids on the field or risking his life in crisis, Officer Kelleher embodies the kind of service that transforms lives.

 Firefighter Blake Hery — Heroic Action Award

On December 23, 2024, a quiet afternoon in Tewksbury turned into a powerful testament to courage and teamwork. At 2:55 p.m., a 911 call reported a 64-year-old resident was unresponsive and not breathing. Dispatcher Rebecca Maccaro immediately sprang into action, guiding the caller—his daughter—through CPR with calm and precision.
Officer Ryan Sheehan was first on the scene and began chest compressions. But it was off-duty Firefighter/EMT Blake Hery, nearby at the time, who saw Sheehan rushing in and instinctively joined the effort. Without hesitation, Blake cleared the area and took over CPR, working seamlessly with arriving police and fire crews. Their combined response, including the use of an AED, led to a remarkable outcome: the patient regained a pulse and began breathing before being transported to Lowell General Hospital.
This moment of selfless service and quick thinking earned Blake Hery the Civil Servant of the Year award—recognizing not just his skill, but his commitment to protecting life, even when off duty. His actions remind us that true heroes don’t wait for the call—they answer it wherever they are.

Brian Aylward — Community Role Model & Outstanding Veteran Support of the Year
For over two decades, Brian Aylward has been a pillar of veteran support in Tewksbury and an outstanding role model citizen for their youth. As a beloved football coach and high school teacher, he’s spent more than 20 years hosting Veterans Day ceremonies at Tewksbury Memorial High School and shaping their youths' minds, ensuring that students and families never forget the sacrifices made by those who served.
Aylward’s impact reached even deeper than the Veterans Day event... He organized a community fundraiser that raised over $6,000 to fulfill a veteran’s final wish: to return home and be buried beside his brother, who lost his life in Vietnam. It was a gesture of profound respect and compassion—one that united the town in honoring legacy, sacrifice, and love.
Brian Aylward’s dedication to veterans and youth alike makes him more than a teacher or coach. He’s a bridge between generations, a steward of remembrance, and a role model whose actions speak louder than words.

Vincent Oliva - Outstanding Role Model & Veteran of the Year
Vincent Oliva has been a pillar of strength and mentorship for Tewksbury’s veteran community. As longtime Commander of VFW Post 8164, he’s led with humility and heart—guiding younger vets, championing youth programs, and fostering unity across generations. Vinnie’s impact goes beyond leadership; he’s a role model who shows up, checks in, and reminds every veteran they’re never alone. His life is a living testimony to service, integrity, and brotherhood.

As we close this chapter of celebration and gratitude, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees who have made this year truly remarkable. Your courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to service have not only uplifted those around you—they’ve become the steady heartbeat of Tewksbury. In times of challenge and triumph alike, you are the ones Tewksbury turns to for strength, hope, and unity. Thank you for being the example, the anchor, and the inspiration. Here's to a future shaped by your leadership and heart.

Watch event recording here

SSgt Raymond “Ray” Tourville passed away while serving at Camp Pendleton from hidden wounds on September 15, 2024. Ray's life was defined by love, service, and unwavering dedication to his family, friends, and country.

Ray's calling to serve began early when he joined the Young Marines at age 11. He was part of the first graduating class of the Cpl. Nicholas Xiarhos Young Marines.

Ray enlisted in the Marine Corps during his senior year of high school, shipping off to Parris Island shortly after graduating from Sandwich High School in 2015. His nine years of military service took him across the globe, serving as an infantry squad leader with Weapons Company, (3/2) 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment ("Betio Bastards") and later as a weapons company section leader with the (2/4) 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines ("Magnificent Bastards"). He deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and served as an instructor with the Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG), preparing numerous units for deployment.

His deployments included Africa, Okinawa, Indonesia, the Philippines, Spain, Timor-Leste, and Thailand. Ray's courage, dedication, and sacrifice throughout these missions exemplified the best qualities of a Marine. Beyond his military duties, Ray's devotion to helping others extended into his work with Recycle for Veterans, a cause close to his heart. More information about this cause can be found at www.recycleforveterans.com.

From the moment he entered this world as a tiny 4-pound baby, he was kind, loving, and gave 100% to everything he did. His presence was a blessing, a light that many didn't realize was needed until it was there. Although the world feels darker without him, his name will never lose the light it brought into all our lives.

Ray is survived by his daughter, Capria; his father Raymond W Tourville and his wife Donna; mother Christine Gibbs and her husband James; brothers Matthew Tourville;   Corey Tourville and  sister Megan Chartier and her partner Enoch; nephews Ryder, Teddy, Xon, and Gavin; nieces Raegan and Lena; and his beloved dog Draven.

The Raymond G Tourville Memorial Fund has been established through the Cape Cod Foundation to support and advocate for initiatives that raise awareness of the mental health challenges faced by military service members and their families particularly the underserved communities in Cape Cod, MA. Donations in his honor can be made at https://capecodfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4466.