|
|
HONOREES PICTURES AND THEIR BIOGRAPHIES
GRAND MARSHAL JAMES T. CALLAHAN James T. Callahan is President and Business Manager of Local 15, 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D, International Union of Operating Engineers.
Jim, a 27-year member who comes from a Union family, moved up the ranks from member, to Shop Steward, Foreman, Trustee, Business Representative and ultimately in 2003 became the 4th President and Business Manager of this Local Union.
As President and Business Manager, Jim is the Chief Executive Officer of Local 15, 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D, International Union of Operating Engineers, whose 5,000 members include heavy construction equipment operators, maintenance engineers, mechanics, firemen, oilers, welders and survey engineers, who work in both the private and public sector. He chairs all meetings including those involving collective bargaining negotiations.
In addition to being both President and Business Manager of Local 15, Jim is on the Executive Board of the New York City Building and Construction Trades Council and is a member of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens Manhattan and Staten Island Boards of Business Agents, a member of the New York City Central Labor Council, the Building and Construction Trades Councils of Nassau and Suffolk Counties and Westchester and Putnam Counties, a member of the Board of Governors of the New York Building Foundation and Trustee of the Northeastern States Conference of the Operating Engineers.
Jim sits on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Blue Ribbon Commission whose purpose is to oversee all MTA projects throughout the City.
Jim was elected Trustee of the Northeastern States Conference of the Operating Engineers, Trustee of the New York State Conference of Operating Engineers and Trustee on the General Pension Fund Committee of the International.
He and his wife, Fran, are the proud parents of three sons, James, Ian and Patrick
HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL LARRY McDERMOTT BIOGRAPHYLARRY McDERMOTT LARRY McDERMOTT WAS BORN IN MANHATTAN INTO A LARGE IRISH-AMERICAN FAMILY. HIS PARENTS HELEN AND PAUL McDERMOTT ALONG WITH THEIR 8 CHILDREN MOVED TO THE ROCKAWAY’S IN 1967. LARRY GRADUATED WITH NATIONAL HONORS FROM CHELSEA VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL JOINED METHALLIC LATHER’S LOCAL 46. LARRY IS HAPPILY MARRIED TO HIS LOVELY WIFE SUSAN FOR OVER 30 YEARS. HE IS THE LOVING FATHER TO HIS THREE DAUGHTERS KRISTI, KELLY AND KATIE AND SON-IN-LAW DONNIE. HE IS A DOTING GRANDFATHER TO MACKENZIE AND DAKOTA. LARRY McDERMOTT HAS BEEN A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF BOTH ST. CAMILLUS AND ST. FRANCIS PARISH’S. HE HAS BEEN A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE ROCKAWAY COUNCIL OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FOR OVER 35 YEARS. HE WAS A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF THE MEN’S ROCKAWAY SOFTBALL LEAGUE. IN 1971 LARRY ENTERED LOCAL 46’S LATHER APPRENTICESHIP. THIS WAS TO BE THE BEGINNING OF A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER. LARRY MOVED UP THROUGH THE RANKS OF HIS UNION AND IS CURRENTLY AN EXECUTIVE SUPERINTENDENT WITH B & R REBAR INC. LARRY’S WORK HAS RESULTED IN A CHANGE IN THE SKYLINE OF ALL OF THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF THIS GREAT CITY OF NEW YORK. BUT HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS HIS ABILITY TO INSPIRE AND MENTOR OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. HE HAS ENABLED AND SUPPORTED THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO JOIN A VARIETY OF UNIONS AND BECOME PART OF THE IMPORTANT WORK OF OUR GREAT UNIONS. IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE NEW YANKEE STADIUM. WHILE YANKEE STADIUM WILL FOREVER BE KNOWN AS THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT, FOR HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS IT WILL FOREVER BE ONE OF THE GREAT STRUCTURES THAT LARRY BUILT.
HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL CAPTAIN PHYLIS BYRNE-DRISCOLL BIOGRAPHY Phylis S. Byrne Biography
Captain Phylis S. Byrne is the Commanding Officer of Transit District 23 here in the Rockaways. The command spans the 100th , 101st and 106th Precincts covering the Rockaways, Howard Beach and Broad Channel. Phylis was appointed to the Police Department in June of 1992, starting in the 70th Precinct (Flatbush Brooklyn) and eventually working in all of Brooklyn South as a police officer. She was promoted to Sergeant in 1997, Lieutenant in 2001 and Captain in 2005. During her career with the police department she has worked in Brooklyn South Task Force, Narcotics, Vice, Investigations, Pension Section and supervised the Organized Crime Control Bureau’s training unit. Prior to being assigned to TD-23, she was the Executive Officer in Transit District 20 which covers the remainder of Queens. .Phylis was born in Staten Island, New York, St. Clare’s Parish, the youngest of four children. She is a second generation Irish- American; her paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Turbett, hails from Mohill, County Leitrum and cousins still have the family farm. Her paternal grandfather, Frank D. Byrne was a New York City Police Officer, appointed in 1927. Phylis is newly (and happily) married to John F. Driscoll, President of the Captains Endowment Association. She is a member of the NYPD Emerald Society. Phylis attended SUNY at Buffalo and College of Staten Island where she attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in psychology. Phylis found out just how many friends and relatives she has in the Rockaways after her picture and biography appeared in the Wave and the phone calls and letters poured in with congratulations. She is thrilled with her assignment in large part because of the warm welcome she received by the Rockaway community. That community has become her best asset as they work hand in hand with the police.
 GAEL OF THE YEAR
John Perry TD Biography
John Perry TD is married to Marie and is father of Jude. He was re-elected to the Dáil in May 2007.
In October 2007 John was appointed Chairperson of the Joint Oireaccchtas Committee on EU Scrutiny.
He was Fine Gael Spokesperson on the Marine from 2004 to 2007. John served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee between September 2002 and October 2004 and was Vice-Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications and Natural Resources.
He was first elected to the Dáil in 1997 for the constituency of Sligo Leitrim. He was Fine Gael spokesperson on Science, Technology, Small Business & Enterprise and the Border Counties from 1997-2000. In June 2000 John was appointed Assistant Director of Organization and Junior Spokesperson with special responsibility for Border Issues. He held this post until February 2001.
He is Chairman of Ballymote Community Enterprise, the first economic community enterprise established in Sligo aimed at creating long-term employment for the area. He is also Chairman of Ballymote Cattle & Horse Show and a member of various community and development committees and organizations.
John was the recipient of the Sligo Person of the Year Award in 1993 and the winner of the Irish Quality Business Award in 1991 and 1992.
OF THE YEAR
DEPUTY GRAND MARSHAL'S 
BILL KINANE BIOGRAPHY
BILL KINANE
BILL KINANE WAS BORN IN BROOKLYN AND ATTENDED ST. ANSLEM’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL ALONG WITH HIS SISTER PARICIA. HIS LATE MOTHER WAS CATHERINE KINANE; THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LADIES AUXILIARY FOR THE V.F.W. KAY KINANE WAS SECOND GENERATION FROM COUNTY CLARE, AND HIS FATHER, WILLIAM, A RETIRED NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER WAS FROM COUNTY DONEGAL.
THE KINANE’S HAVE LIVED IN THE BREEZY POINT COOPERATIVE SINCE 1964. BILL WAS IN THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF BEACH CHANNEL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1976. HE THEN WENT ON TO COLLEGE ATTENDING SOUTH HAMPTON UNIVERSITY AND LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, BEFORE JOINING THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1981.
BILL SERVED TENTY-TWO EARS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVING IN THE 63RD PCT, WHERE HE WAS THE PATROLMEN’S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION DELEGATE FOR THIRTEEN YEARS AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE FIREARMS CONTROL SECTION IN QUEENS.L BILL RETIRED FROM THE ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL BOARD IN THE ASSET FORFEITURE UNIT, JOINT ASSET REMOVAL TEAM WITH THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE. BILL IS A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EMERALD SOCIETY, HOLY NAME SOCIETY, AND THE BROOKLYN/STATEN ISLAND 10-13 CLUB.
BILL IS MARRIED FOR TWENTY YEARS TO MAURA KEANE KINANE , A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BREEZY POINT, AND THEY HAVE TWO CHILDREN, KATIE-ROSE, AND BRIDGET-ANNE, WHO BOTH ATTEND BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL. BILL IS A PAST CAPTAIN OF THE PT. BREEZE FIRE DEPT, AND A PAST BOARD MEMBER OF THE BREEZY POINT COOPERATIVE. HE HAS ALSO SERVED ON MANY DIFFERENT COMMITTEES WITHIN THE COOPERATIVE. BILL IS A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE BREEZY PT. CATHOLIC CLU B, THE ROXBURY MAYORS CLUB, AND THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, COUNCIL #1073. HE IS A FIVE YEAR MEMBER AND CURRENT TREASURER OF THE CATHOLIC CLUB DRUM AND PIPES BAND. BILL IS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AS THE CAPTAIN OF SECURITY WITHIN THE COOPERATIVE.
I AM HONORED TO BE PART OF THE QUEENS COUNTY PARADE AS A DEPUTY GRAND MARSHAL OF THE ROCKAWAY PARADE. I HAVE PROUDLY MARCHED IN THE ROCKAWAY PARADE, FIRST MANY YEARS WITH THE PT. BREEZE FIRE DEPT AND CURRENTLY WITH THE CATHOLIC CLUB DRUM AND PIPE BAND. THERE ARE ALSO MANY FOND MEMORIES OF STANDING ON THE SIDE LINES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER CHEERING ON THE PARADE PARTICIPANTS, ENJOYING A ROCKAWAY TRADITION.
DIANE WILLAUM BIOGRAPHY
DIANE WILLAUM
DIANE WILLAUM HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF ROCKAWAY SINCE 1970.
HER MOTHER’S FAMILY HAILS FROM COUNTY MAYO. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY PROUD OF OUR IRISH HERITAGE. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE ENJOYED THE QUEENS COUNTY ROCKAWAY PARADE SINCE IT BEGAN AND HAVE BEEN VERY ENTHUSIASTIC TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT.
SINCE JOINING BRITISH AIRWAYS, MARCH 1987, I HAVE BEEN A PROUD MACHINIST UNION MEMBER. I HAVE BEEN A SHOP STEWARD, TRUSTEE, NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE MEMBER, FULLTIME UNION ORGANIZER, VP DISTRICT 142 AND PRESIDENT OF THE JFK LOCAL LODGE 1894.
WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS AN HONOREE IN THIS YEARS PARADE.
PATRICK J. KELLY
CAPTAIN, N.Y.S. COURT OFFICERS
BIOGRAPHY
THE ELDEST SON OF PATRICK AND DOLORES KELLY, BROTHER MARK, AND SISTER DONNA.
PATRICK WAS BORN IN THE HOLY INNOCENTS PARISH IN BROOKLYN, NY IN 1960. PATRICK’S FATHER RETIRED NYC POLICE OFFICER FROM THE 68TH. PCT IN CONEY ISLAND. MARRIED TO THEREA ,NEE BOND. A REGISTERED NURSE AT ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL AND THE PROUD FATHER OF 5 CHILDREN: MOLLY, MEGHAN, KAITLYN, EMMA AND PATRICK.
PATRICK IS A SECOND GENERATION IRISH AMERICAN. HIS GRANDPARENTS, JOHN AND JOSIE, NEE ,MCNAMARA OF O’CALLAGHAN MILLS, ENNIS, COUNTY CLARE. GRANDFATHER EMIGRATED FROM IRELAND IN THE 40’S AND WORKED FOR CON ED.
PATRICK HAS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE COURTS THIS YEAR AND IS A CAPTAIN IN QUEENS FAMILY COURT. HE HAS WORKED IN BROOKLYN SUPREME COURT, APPELATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPT, NEW YORK CITY, BRONX AND STATEN ISLAND FAMILY COURT BEFORE GETTING BACK TO QUEENS FAMILY COURT, WHERE HE STARTED HIS CAREER AS A COURT OFFICER IN 1987,
PAT LIVED IN ROCKAWAY FOR 20 YEARS BEFORE MOVING TO OCEANSIDE IN 1998 AND NOW RESIDES IN ATLANTIC BEACH.
PAT IS VERY PROUD OF HIS IRISH HERITAGE AND HAS BEEN TO IRELAND NUMEROUS TIMES. HIS COUSINS STILL LIVE IN ENNIS AND OWN THE DIAMOND BAR ON, O’CONNELL ST ENNIS. PAT IS A MEMER OF THE NYS COURT OFFICERS EMERALD SOCIETY AND AN ALUMNI OF BIG BROTHERS/ BIG SISTERS OF NY
PAT SAY’S THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO HIM ARE GOD, FAMILY AND HIS IRISH HERITAGE.
 PATRICIA LANGTON DEVINE BIOGRAPHY PATRICIA LANGTON DEVINE
PATRICIA DEVINE IS A CAPABLE LOVING AND CARING WOMAN OF IRISH DESCENT. PAT DEVINE HAS HAD AND CONTINUES TO HAVE AN OUTSTANDING RECORD OF SERVICE TO HER FAMILY, HER CHURCH, AND HER COMMUNITY.
DAUGHTER OF LAURETTE AND EDWARD LANGTON, WHOSE GRANDPARENTS COME FROM KILKENNY AND CAVAN HAS LONG PROMOTED HER LOVE OF HER IRISH CULTURE AND HERITAGE.
MARRIED TO THE LATE FINBAR DEVINE, DRUM MAJOR OF THE NEW ORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT EMERALD SOCIETY PIPE AND DRUMS. WHO HAS BEEN LAUDED BY CONGRESSMEN, GOVERNORS, MAYORS AND PEOPLE IN ALL STRATA OF IRISH SOCIETY AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING IRISH LEADERS IN NEW YORK. PATRICIA CONTINUES FINBAR’S LEGACY AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER IN THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANCHOR CLUB AND THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT EMERALD SOCIETY.
PAT AND FINBAR’S LOVE OF IRISH MUSIC LED THEIR SON, FINBAR JR TO CONTINUE HIS FATHER’S TRADITION OF PIPING. HE PLAYS WITH THE BREEZY POINT CATHOLIC CLUB PIPE AND DRUMS WHICH IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PIPE MAJOR TERENCE WILLIAMS. HE HAS PLAYED AT THE RECEPTION FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT CITY HALL.
THE DEVINE FAMILY KEEPS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILY IN IRELAND, VISITING COUNTY CORK AND COUNTY SLIGO. ONE OF THEIR MOST MEMORABLE VISITS TO IRELAND WAS WITH FINBAR LEADING THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT PIPE AND DRUMS IN BUNDORAN, COUNTY DONEGAL TO HONOR THE HUNGER STRIKERS- SEARCHING FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE FOR IRELAND – THEN A HOPE AND A DREAM – NOW A REALITY.
AS A TEACHER WITH THE NYC BOARD OF EDUCATION SHE HELPED CHILDREN DEVELOP A LOVE OF LEARNING AND TO SEEK NEW HORIZONS. SHE IS WELL KNOWN FOR HER ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN IN OUR BROOKLYN SCHOOLS, ALTHOUGH NOW RETIRED SHE MAINTAINS STRONG AFFILIATION WITH THE CATHOLIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. PAT IS ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DR. GERALDINE CHAPEY’S TRINITY SERVICES(HOLDIG THEIR NEXT ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON MAY 30, AT 12 NOON AT RUSSO’S ON THE BAY), SERVES ON THE ROCKAWAY CATHOLIC JEWISH COUNCIL AND AFFILIATED WITH THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS, DIV 25, THE BREEZY POINT GARDEN CLUB, ST. THOMAS MORE/ST EDMUND’S GOLDEN AGE,
PAT DEVINE’S LOVE OF PEOPLE AND ALL THINGS IRISH ARE A DEFINING PART OF HER PERSONA..
 GRACE TOLAND BIOGRPAHY
Grace Toland came to Rockaway as a child with her family from Buncrana Co. Donegal Ireland. She is the daughter of Maura Toland and the late Patrick Toland. Her parents instilled in Grace, a love of both Ireland and her adopted country, the USA. She comes from a family in Ireland that has a strong tradition of community service and loyalty to country. Her maternal grandfather, Charles McLaughlin, fought for the freedom of Ireland in the 1920’s. Many of her family are still involved in Irish politics today.
Grace absorbed the strong Irish work-ethic demonstrated by her parents. She graduated in 1980 from Pace University and became a Registered Nurse. She started her career at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway and rose to the position of Nursing Supervisor of the Chemical Dependency Department. She continued her career at Lutheran Medical Center as the Nursing Director of Psychiatry. She continues to work in the Behavioral Health Field and is a caring professional that has contributed to the quality of life and well being of many individuals.
Grace’s family is very proud of her success professionally and personally. She is the mother of Owen Brennan, who is a graduate of SUNY Albany and also a Rockaway resident. She has been involved with the Parade Committee for several years and has worked tirelessly for the continued success of the parade. Grace is honored to be chosen as a Deputy Grand Marshall of the Parade and is proud of her Irish heritage and to be a member of the Rockaway Irish Community.
Dr. David Lichtenstein
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Lichtenstein was born February 3, 1955 in Brooklyn, NY, but spent his early childhood in El Paso, Texas and Florida. His family then relocated to Brooklyn, NY and later on to Manhattan. Dr. Lichtenstein attended McBirney Academy. It was here at McBirney that he learned to ride horses and discovered his love of the outdoors.
Dr. L started college at Long Island University which was interrupted when he passed the NÅSDQ exam for mutual funds and became a broker at First Investor’s Corp. After a successful career he finished his college education and continued onto medical school. His residency in Internal Medicine was completed at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.
Over the years Dr Lichtenstein has been an educator and mentor to many. He has been on the teaching staff at Mr. Sinai Hospital where he taught Physical Diagnosis to medical students. He has been an Associate Director of Medicine at Peninsula Hospital Center as well as Director of Family Practice where he elevated it’s teaching program to what was one of the most successful in the northeast.
Many of Dr. Lichtenstein’s students have become directors of medical programs themselves, for example the Director of Family Practice at Peninsula Hospital Center and the Director of Orthopedics at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, SS.
Dr. L has been in private practice serving all of the Rockaway community and Broad Channel for over twenty years. Presently, he is a NYC Police Surgeon, a Panel Physician at Ringside for the NYS Boxing Commission and a Medical Director of the Rockaway Point Volunteer Ambulance.
His love of teaching is shown daily as a Medical Instructor at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, SS. He continues to be an Associate Professor of Medicine at three Medical Schools in the Tri State area.
After meeting his wife, Donna Evans, who is a Rockaway native, he decided to open his practice right here in the neighborhood and raise a family. You can find Dr. L., Donna and their three wonderful children Danielle, Vanessa and Eric any given weekend in the summer enjoying the beach. The Lichtensteins are members of Temple Beth-El in Rockaway Park.
In his free time, Dr. Lichtenstein enjoys many hobbies besides horseback riding. He is an avid bow-hunter, fisherman, scuba diver; in other words, a total outdoorsman.
 JAMES McVEIGH BIOGRPAHY BORN IN ROCKAWAY BEACH, NEW YORK, SON OF PEGGY AND OWEN, SISTERS, MARGARET AND KATHLEEN, AND SEVEN BROTHERS: OWEN, TOM, VINNY, KEVIN, MICHAEL, FRANK, AND TERRY. JAMES’S GRANDPARENTS HAIL FROM DUBLIN, CORK, GALWAY AND MONAHAN.
UNCLE FRANK MCVEIGH AND HIS LATE MOM, WHO PASSED IN 1988 WERE VERY INFLUENTAL IN KEEPING THE IRISH TRADITION ALIVE IN THE ROCKAWAY’S. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO MY MOM, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL OF HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO OUR FAMILY. WE MISS HER AND LOVE HER VERY MUCH. MY DAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT FRIEND TO ME, SHOWING ME THROUGH EXAMPLE, THE POWER OF PRAYER, HUMILITY, COURAGE AND FAITH. HE AND HIS WIFE LILY ARE A CONSTANT SOURCE OF JOY..
JAMES RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A WEDDING IN CO CAVAN, IRELAND WITH A GREAT GROUP OF FRIENDS, HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME. A FEW YEARS BACK I SPENT TIME IN IRELAND WITH THE ST. CAMILLS SPECIAL OLYMPICS. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING INVOLVED WITH A VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS,ATHLETES AND PARENTS FOR OVER 10 YEARS. THEY INCLUDE JOE F(OUR FEARLESS LEADER),CHRISTINE AND SEAN, KATHY C, ROSE G, PETER B, JAY B, DANNY G, RUSS, SUSAN H, MATT D, JOE KEENAN, FATHER DUNNE AND MANY OTHERS. EACH YEAR WE EXPAND OUR EVENTS CALENDAR, SOME OT THESE INCLUDE TRIPS TO THE BRONX ZOO, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY, ARTHER AVENUE, WEST POINT FOOTBALL, YANKEE STADIUM, SHEA STADIUM, SKI WINDHAM AND THE SUMMER PROGRAM AT THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS FOUNDATION. FUNDING FOR ALL OF THESE EVENTS IS PROVIDED THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WE THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS FOUNDATION AT SKI WINDHAM HAS WELCOMED ME AS AN INSTRUCTOR FOR MANY YEARS, ST. CAMILLUS SPECIAL OLYMPICS FIRST MAJOR TRIP WAS TO SKI WINDHAM. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE PRIMARILY THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF JOHN, VIRGINIA, JOE AND LORETTA COURTNEY. THE COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE OF THE STUDENTS WE WORK WITH IS AWE INSPIRING., BEING HIGHLY INVOLVED IN ST. FRANCIS AND ST. CAMILLUS I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUITY TO GIVE BACK, IN SMALL WAYS THE LOVE I HAVE FOR MY COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS. SUPPORTING AND PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL EVENTS THAT INCLUDE: THE GREYBEARDS, THE PAT SAVAGE TRIATHALON, THE JOHN EDWARDS, NELLY DUNCAN SUMMER SERIES, THE STEVEN BELLS SWIM, ST. FRANCIS SUMMER CLASSIC WITH DANNY EDWARDS, JOE KENEL AND BUGSY O NAME A FEW. I HAVE ALSO BEEN KNOWS TO ATTEND SOME RACING AND RUNNING EVENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE BEEN A WEEKLY READER AT ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL IN NEW YORK FOR OVER 15 YEARS, IN BETWEEN RUNS AND MY MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES I HAVE FOUND TIME FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AT TIME MOVING AND STORAGE FOR OVER 25 YEARS. I WISH TO THANK THE PARADE COMMITTEE ESPECIALLY MY FRIENDS MIKE BENN AND JOHN BRENNAN FOR THIS FANTASTIC HONOR.
 MSGR JOHN J. BROWN
PASTOR OF
ST. FRANCIS DES SALES PARISH
BIOGRAPHY
JOHN BROWN WAS BORN ON FEBRUARY 22, 1957 IN BROOKLYN. HIS PARENTS ARE CHESTER BROWN AND JOSEPHINE APRIGLIANO. HIS MOTHER IS DECEASED AND HIS FATHER LIVES IN BROOKLYN. HE HAS TWO BROTHERS, HOWARD WHO IS DECEASED AND HIS BROTHER JAMES BROWN WHO LIVES IN ENGLAND. HE WENT TO ST. MICHAEL’S IN BROOKLYN FOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND CATHEDRAL PREP IN QUEENS FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
EDUCATION: CATHEDRAL COLLEGE 75 – 90, HE HAS A B.A. IN PHILOSOPHY. HE WENT TO THE GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY IN ROME FROM 1979 – 1984. HE WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST ON JUNE 25, 1983 IN ROME. HE HAS AN STB IN THEOLOGY, STL IN SPIRITUALITY AND ALSO HE WENT TO CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA FOR JCL IN CANNON LAW. HE WAS NAMED A MONSIGNOR IN JUNE OF 2000.
HE WAS ASSIGNED TO ST. JOSEPH’S IN ASTORIA FROM 1984 - 1989, ST. CLARE’S IN ROSEDALE FROM 1988 – 1991 AND WAS MADE VICE CHANCELLOR FROM 1991 - 1997, HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL IN BROOKLYN DIOCESE FROM 1997 – 2006 AND WAS MADE PASTOR OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES IN 2006 AND CONTINUES TO THE PRESENT.
 JANE DEACY BIOGRAPHY HONORABLE JANE E. DEACY
Jane Deacy is the newly elected Republican State Committee Woman, better known as Republican District Leader of the 23 Assembly District which encompasses the geographical areas of Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Broad Channel and our very own Rockaway Peninsula. She is thrilled to be serving in this elected capacity and hopes to truly make a difference for Rockaway.
Jane was born in Flatlands, Brooklyn and has always been the recipient of all the wonderful activities and treasures that the Rockaway Peninsula have offered including the full use of Rockaway Playland, the beaches of Riis Park at Bay 13 and Fort Tilden, and of course the friendships formed at the Surf Clubs as well as McNulty’s, Fitzgerald’s, and Bill Mann’s, These lifelong friendships and memories ultimately lured her back to the Rockaways to reside fulltime.
Jane resides in Rockaway Point with her husband Ed Deacy, who is an renowned Irish entertainer and first NYS Senior Idol. She has three adult daughters Danielle, married to Brendon Martin, Kelly and Erin, and two beautiful grandchildren, Vaughn and Hailey Martin. They are all frequent visitors to Jane and Ed at their home in Rockaway Point, where they are helping to create their own memories of the Rockaway Peninsula.
Jane is a retired New York City Police Officer who was one of the first females to serve in a patrol function. After retiring from the police department, she became an Associate Real Estate Broker in East Northport, L.I. where she lived raising her family while at the same time returned to college in order to “earn her degree, before her daughter got hers”, she quips. Jane’s entire family are members of Screen Actors Guild and if you look closely you will see her on reruns of Law and Order, where she worked regularly, as, you guessed it, a very believable cop. So much for type casting! She has also appeared in many New York based movies over the years.
Jane and Ed have owned a summer home in Rockaway Point and we all know why she left the North Shore of LI during the summer months to return to “Queens”, she laughs. “If they only knew about this treasure…” In 1983, the Deacys decided to move back to the beach fulltime. She became a community activist serving on as many as thirteen committees within Breezy Point, assisting with the BP Teen Show and by volunteering as a ski instructor for the disabled at Windham Mountain. She has been an instructor for the Wounded Warrior Project there and right here in Rockaway, teaching wounded soldiers how to snow and water ski but more importantly, that there is a return to living a full life. Her salary is the smile on their faces. Her success at teaching skiing led her easily to seek a position within the classroom as a teacher. She worked part time in Special Education and more currently, spent the last four years, teaching fourth grade at Rockaway’s St. Camillus School. She often took her students on field trips to learn from nature and her class was often seen in the Wave on those excursions. She loves teaching and believes in strong family involvement and leading by example. She has returned to Real Estate in order to allow flexibility of her time, while she does just that, leads by example as our new District Leader.
Jane enjoys along with her entire family, dual citizenship from Ireland and America, as her grandfather, John Morris, and all her in-laws had their roots in Ireland. They are proud to carry on their heritage.
Jane would like to thank the parade committee for nominating her as Deputy Grand Marshall of this great St. Patrick’s Day Parade.” It is a tremendous honor for me to be part of this long standing tradition and following the footsteps of St. Patrick’s in leading, it is not an easy task, however with your prayers, I hope to be successful and make a difference. “
|
|