Robert Singer Named Citizen of the Year
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he Greater Manchester Chamber is proud to announce Robert Singer, longtime business leader, philanthropist, and community advocate, as the recipient of the 2026 Citizen of the Year Award. Deeply rooted in Manchester for more than 70 years, Singer will be honored on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Greater Manchester Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Celebration, taking place at 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. This annual event, presented by Elliot Health System, brings together Chamber members, community supporters, friends, and family to recognize Singer’s extraordinary and lasting impact on Greater Manchester.
A lifelong Manchester resident and a cornerstone of the region’s business and philanthropic community, Singer is widely admired for his humility, generosity, and steadfast dedication to strengthening every facet of life in the Queen City. His leadership at Merchants Automotive Group, his deep family legacy of giving, and his significant contributions to healthcare, youth empowerment, local media, and the arts have shaped Manchester’s trajectory for decades.
A Legacy of Leadership and Giving Back
The Singer family story is woven into the fabric of Manchester. Beginning in 1962, Robert’s parents, Irving and Bernice Singer, built Merchants Motors into a thriving business rooted in hard work, service, and community-minded values. As the company expanded into regional and national leasing and fleet management, Robert stepped into leadership roles, eventually serving as Co-CEO and President, helping propel Merchants to become one of the top fleet management companies in the United States.
While the company grew nationally, Singer’s heart never left Manchester. The Singers’ long-standing support of the Salvation Army, Union Leader Santa Fund, and the Gail Singer Memorial Blood Drive has embodied the family’s belief that a strong community is built through service and generosity.
Under Robert’s leadership, Merchants Automotive earned numerous awards, including Business NH Magazine’s Best Company to Work For, Stay Work Play’s Cool Company to Work For, Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, and recognition from Inc. and Fortune magazines. Yet for Singer, the company’s most meaningful legacy has always been its people and its community impact.
Investing in Manchester’s Future
Since retiring from the business, Singer has amplified his commitment to the city he loves – never seeking recognition, always guided by purpose and compassion.
After losing his son, Jordan, to epithelioid sarcoma, Robert and his family created Jordan’s Dream Fund, the first-of-its-kind national program supporting young sarcoma patients with travel and lodging expenses needed to access life-saving clinical trials.
His contributions to the Elliot Hospital have also been transformative. Singer contributed major gifts to the expansion of the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care in honor of Jordan, and later supported the Elliot Emergency Department in honor of his parents. His leadership in healthcare philanthropy earned him the Davison Award for Philanthropy from the Mary & John Elliot Charitable Foundation in 2023.
Singer’s generosity extends across the city:
- He provided a major, transformational gift to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Manchester that led to the creation of the Jordan Singer Youth Enrichment Center.
- He has also supported the Mark Stebbins Community Center, helping advance its mission to bring critical health, youth, and family services to Manchester’s West Side through a unified, community-driven nonprofit hub.
- He supported the Union Leader’s restructuring to ensure the state continues to have an independent daily newspaper.
- He has been a committed supporter of the Chabad on River Road, Waypoint, the Palace Theatre, and numerous organizations addressing both youth and family homelessness, family support, and community wellbeing.
In 2025, Robert and his partner, Rhonda Duhamel, further invested in Manchester’s downtown by opening Bravo, a café and fine-dining restaurant on Hanover Street. In partnership with the Palace Theatre, he also supported the opening of the Singer Center for the Arts, demonstrating his belief that a vibrant arts and culture scene is essential to a thriving city.
A Humble and Quiet Force for Food
Singer is known for his heartfelt approach to giving – quiet, personal, and rooted in genuine care for others. He does not seek accolades, and he never asks for anything in return. His philosophy is rooted in his upbringing, and also a life spent in Manchester. “Community is really important to me,” Singer said. “I’ve lived here 74 years and ran my business here for 50+ years. Manchester has been really good to me, so I want to give back to it.”
Those who work with him describe him as compassionate, loyal, intuitive, and deeply committed to ensuring no child, family, or neighbor falls through the cracks. His fingerprints can be found across Manchester’s most important institutions, not for recognition, but because he believes it is the right thing to do.
Recognition of Decades of Service and Leadership
From healthcare to youth services, local media to the arts, and faith communities to citywide initiatives, Robert Singer’s lifetime of service represents the best of Manchester. His work exemplifies the Chamber’s belief that thriving communities are built through shared responsibility, meaningful partnerships, and a commitment to lifting others.
The Greater Manchester Chamber is honored to celebrate Robert Singer as the 2025 Citizen of the Year.
The Greater Manchester Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Celebration, presented by Elliot Health System, will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. For more information, please visit www.manchester-chamber.org.
Sponsorship of this event helps to support the Chamber’s mission – to bring together business and community to enhance economic success and quality of life in Greater Manchester – and makes it possible to recognize leaders like Robert Singer, whose generosity and deep commitment to service strengthen our community. For sponsorship or ticket information, please contact COY@manchester-chamber.org.
