Town of Fort Myers Beach honors Spalletta and Tunaskin founders with Mulholland Award

Dec 1, 2025 By Nathan Mayberg 2 min read

Longtime Turtle Time volunteer Mary Rose Spalletta, who long served on the Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force, was honored with the town's Mulholland Award. The award recognizes those committed to protecting and preserving the town’s natural resources. The award also honors those who bring awareness to the town’s natural resources through education. File photo

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council has named longtime Turtle Time volunteer Mary Rose Spalletta, and Tunaskin founders Bill Bronsord and Mitch Fusek, with the town’s prestigious John Mullholland Stewardship Award.

The award, named after the late Fort Myers Beach Mayor John Mulholland, honors those committed to protecting and preserving the town’s natural resources. The award also honors those who bring awareness to the town’s natural resources through education.

In addition to volunteering with Turtle Time, Spalletta served several terms on the Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force.

“I am thrilled to receive this honor for for doing something I so enjoy,” Spalletta said. “I have found surveying Fort Myers Beach for turtles in the early morning, working to preserve our Florida history and ecology, and helping our community organizations most engaging and rewarding. In addition, I’ve gotten to do these things in the fun company of like-minded people.”

Spalletta said the award “is an honor.”

Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force Chair Dave Nusbaum said the committee chose to give the award to multiple people as the award had not been given out since 2022, when Cindy Johnson was recognized for her efforts in the community.

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said the recipients of the award this year “are truly deserving of this recognition due to their ongoing dedication and involvement in the principles and the spirit behind this award. Their continued commitment to community, culture, and the meaningful impact they make exemplifies the very spirit and purpose of this honor. It is inspiring to see such passionate individuals recognized for their efforts, and I congratulate each of them on this well-deserved recognition.”

Mulholland was a champion of preserving and protecting the town’s natural environment. Mulholland Point, in the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area on the south end of Fort Myers Beach, is named after him.