Mona Connolly Casper honored with 2024 Thomas J. Butler Award from South Boston Chamber of Commerce
Born and raised in South Boston, Mona is manager of the Seapoint Bar and Grill, a popular restaurant and gathering place for numerous events throughout the year, from fundraisers and sports to anniversaries and holiday events.
She comes from an illustrious family lineage with Galway roots that included her late mother Mary T. “Mona” Connolly, a popular travel agent and successful businesswoman, and her father, Tom Connolly, a retired Boston Police Department detective who owns the Seapoint along with Coleman Mannion. Her husband, Tommy Casper and his family are also native South Bostonians and active in the community as well.
Connolly Casper and the Seapoint sponsor local charities that were important to her mom, including the Laboure Center, Simon of Cyrene Society, and The Dodo Nee Foundation. They also support Kelly Conroy’s Adopt a Platoon Southie Style, Special Kids & Young Adults, Colin’s Joy Project, St. Bridget’s, South Boston Catholic Academy, Timothy “Doc” Cook Scholarships and youth sports.
“I hate to say no to anybody," says Mona. "We try to give where we can, as the business and as a family.”
She is proud to be following in the footsteps of her mother, also named Mona, a trailblazing woman who was named South Boston Businesswoman of the Year in 2000, started Pleasure Bay Travel Agency and who was an original proprietor of the Seapoint Restaurant. Her mom served on the Board of Directors for both the Chamber of Commerce and South Boston Main Street, and was active in community initiatives such as the St. Augustine Chapel Restoration Committee and the South Boston Irish-American Society.
She is proud to be following in the footsteps of her mother, also named Mona, a trailblazing woman who was named South Boston Businesswoman of the Year in 2000, started Pleasure Bay Travel Agency and who was an original proprietor of the Seapoint Restaurant. Her mom served on the Board of Directors for both the Chamber of Commerce and South Boston Main Street, and was active in community initiatives such as the St. Augustine Chapel Restoration Committee and the South Boston Irish-American Society.
"My parents started this business over 40 years ago and my dad, together with our extended family have kept it going in our community. When my mom passed away in 2010 she had just started to train me to take over some of her duties, but she had so much more to teach me, she was ahead of her time as a businesswoman and as a community leader. I have yet to adequately fill her shoes," she says.
Opened in 1979 and now in its 45th year, the restaurant’s family atmosphere and ties to the community contribute to its longevity.
“I think small businesses are the fabric of the community," she says. "There has been an explosion of newer younger residents to South Boston, but there are still many, many lifelong members of the South Boston community that still call it home. I feel like Seapoint is a consistent place to go to get a good meal, have a few laughs, and celebrate all kinds of occasions."
The award is named in honor of Tommy Butler, a legendary South Boston resident and community leader. Butler worked for Massport for 25 years as its community relations director and worked closely with communities such as South Boston, East Boston and Winthrop affected by Logan International Airport. He was also an early advocate for expanding international tourism and helped build the city's cruise ship trade that has become an important component of the city’s tourism industry.
Tom also had a special interest in American and Boston Irish history. He helped organize the Revolutionary War activities around Evacuation Day each year, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade. He was a member of the South Boston Irish-American Society, the Castle Island Association and the South Boston Boys and Girls Club.
"The fact that the award is named after one of my favorite South Boston leaders, Tommy Butler is just the icing on the cake. He was such a larger than life personality, truly special," Mona says.
Tom also had a special interest in American and Boston Irish history. He helped organize the Revolutionary War activities around Evacuation Day each year, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade. He was a member of the South Boston Irish-American Society, the Castle Island Association and the South Boston Boys and Girls Club.
"The fact that the award is named after one of my favorite South Boston leaders, Tommy Butler is just the icing on the cake. He was such a larger than life personality, truly special," Mona says.
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