NAHANT — In a historic appointment, the Select Board recently selected Mariana Rauworth to serve as harbormaster, making her the first woman to hold the position in town history.
Rauworth, a lifelong Nahant resident, said she “grew up on the waters, and my parents instilled the love of the water into me.”
Rauworth has served as an assistant harbormaster since 2021. A seven-year veteran of the Nahant Police Department, she currently serves as executive admin to the chief of police, accreditation manager, grant manager, and lead 911 dispatcher.
She will replace the current harbormaster, Rob Tibbo, who has served for a combined 30 years as harbormaster and assistant harbormaster.
Nahant’s new harbormaster will serve on a probationary basis starting July 1, extending the trial period through June 30, 2027, to cover a full busy spring season so Rauworth can experience the role during the harbormaster’s busiest time of year.
“It makes sense, because the six months wouldn’t cover going through all of the mooring applications and the beginning of the incoming season. Where Rob just did this current one, and the six months wouldn’t have covered that, it makes perfect sense. I want to absorb all the knowledge I possibly can,” she said.
Tibbo said he will miss the “opportunity to help people when they really need it. I’m very motivated by that, and always have been.”
He added, “People who are in trouble in their hour of need, that’s a very fulfilling opportunity for at least for me, and I think for many first responders to be able to reach in and give them the assistance that they need. I will miss that piece.”
“Rob’s family has served as harbormaster for multiple generations, which embodies what Nahant is. It’s a generational town, which makes it very unique and just encompasses what family is,” Rauworth said. “He’s a truly incredible individual. So, big shoes to fill, obviously, but I am very eager to take it on and work with him.”
Rauworth cited her father, Michael J. Rauworth, who died in 2023, a U.S. Coast Guard captain, as an important role model whom she now has the opportunity to honor in this role.
“I had an incredible role model growing up, and now it’s just my way of being able to give back to the community in a really honorable way,” she said. “It’s just a really nice way to also honor his memory of serving his time out on the water.”
Rauworth’s father also served as a merchant mariner and lawyer, and served on various committees in town, including serving as president of the Nahant Preservation Trust.
