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The following citation was delivered when the Massachusetts Maritime Academy awarded Joe DeNucci an honorary doctorate degree in public affairs on June 18, 2005.

It is with distinct pleasure we honor you today.  You are a model of consistent   achievement in your journey through life.

From the stamina, sweat and discipline of the boxing ring to the competitive arena of Massachusetts politics you have excelled.

Always your priority was helping the oppressed, the poor, the disenfranchised and the mission was accomplished on the floor of the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a member and as House Chairman of the Committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs.

Your passionate advocacy for laws to combat child abuse and neglect, to increased opportunities for the disabled, provisions for better nutrition for children and championing the needs of the elderly and the homeless.

You have sponsored and co-sponsored legislation in establishing the Special Commission on Social Security Disability that resulted in the United States Congress restoring rights and benefits of the truly disabled.

Your commitment to children in the passage of the Child Abuse District Attorney Reporting Law revolutionized how authorities dealt with child abuse, making it a victim-centered approach.  That commitment to youth is further evidenced in your guidance and sponsorships of boxing clubs and clinics which have contributed greatly to the lives of many.

As Auditor of the Commonwealth you have been independent and objective in making certain that public funds are used legally, wisely and for the purposes intended.  You have been a catalyst to improve the manner in which the state government serves the people of Massachusetts.  You have maintained your commitment to the most vulnerable in society by ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of needed programs and services, and in your own words, you have been the "Watchdog for the Underdog."

In May 2004 you were inducted into the National-Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.  Today, it is the honor and privilege of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to induct you into our hall of fame and bestow on you the Degree of Doctor of Public Affairs.