2011 St. Patrick's Day Parade Honorees
GRAND MARSHALS - The Lloyd Family - Owners - Irish Import Shop
In 1965, Clinton Lloyd landed in Rochester, New York from Dublin, Ireland in hopes of making the "infamous" New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. What Clinton did not know was that NYC was a six-hour drive from Rochester and to this day, Clinton is yet to see the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade! Scouted by Hickey Freeman Company, Clinton's tailoring skills not only introduced him to a whole new country and way of living - but eventually to a whole new life. Clinton and Rita were regulars at Rochester's Harp's Club where Clinton was both a member and volunteer. In October of 1969 they married and started their family. Their five children include two engineers, one attorney, and two business managers who help run the family business. Around town, the Lloyd children have taken Irish Dance lessons for a combined 70 years. Clinton and Rita are also blessed with five grandchildren (Bridget, Caitlin, Elizabeth, Zachary, and Aiden), two of whom currently take Irish dancing with Drumcliffe Irish Arts. In 1981, Clinton began selling Irish Dresden, an intricate line of Irish artistry made from hand laid lace. After the response to the Irish Dresden, Clinton & Rita expanded the business to include many other items from his homeland. In order to acquire store merchandise in a quick and cost-effective manner, Clinton began a small shipping company. This would not only help bring his merchandise over from Ireland, but would help other Irish and Celtic stores across the country obtain their goods from Ireland. In 2003, Clinton was awarded the North American Celtic Trade Association's (NACTA) "Citation of Excellence" for his continued support and practice of the highest professional standards. He is currently on the Board of Directors of NACTA, which is responsible for promoting Irish and Celtic Culture throughout the United States and Canada. This year marks their 30th Anniversary in business! In support of Irish heritage, the Lloyds have been active in various local organizations. Clinton was on the planning board for the original Rochester Irish Festival and helped resurrect the current Rochester Irish Festival, which he supports through his position on the Board of Directors. In 1990, he was recognized as the St. Patrick's Day Parade "Businessman of the Year!" Last year, Clinton and Rita were awarded the "Bob Kelly" Award at the 2010 Rochester Irish Festival and the "Pillars of the Irish Community" Award at the 2010 Irish American Cultural Institute award reception and famine remembrance. Working alongside her parents, their daughter Patricia is also on the Board of Directors of the Rochester Irish Festival, an active member of the Ladies' Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), and an honorary member of the Rochester Police Emerald Society. Their son, Kevin is also an active member on the Rochester Irish Festival. Clinton and Rita have been part of Rochester's St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrations from the start and have received numerous awards for their entries, from 1985's "Award of Excellence: Best Float" to 2010's "Best Commercial Unit". In addition to all of these awards, Clinton himself sewed each and every one the county sashes worn every year by "Ireland's 32" in the parade! Rain, snow, sleet or even the occasional sunny day, the Lloyd family has never missed a St Patrick's Day Parade yet!! The parade committee is very pleased and proud to have the Lloyd family serve as Grand Marshals for the 2011 St. Patrick's Parade.
COMMUNITY LEADER OF THE YEAR - John Grattan
John Grattan has most appropriately been chosen this year's Community Leader. He is a native and lifelong resident of Rochester. John was born in 1943 and attended Aquinas Institute. After graduation, he set off to the General Motors Institute where he received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical / Electrical Engineering in 1966. By 1970, he achieved his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. John's professional career began at Chrysler in Defense Engineering where he worked on Army / Marine Tank Design and Evaluation. Following that, he worked for the Xerox Corporation until he retired in 2002. During that time, John served roles in finance, marketing, international operations and quality. While at Xerox he also served on loan as a vice president for the AT&T Corporation. As if all of these accomplishments didn't speak for themselves, John has another complimentary existence outside of all this work and it centers around the community at large. He has served as a youth soccer coach for 10 years. John has been a member of the Irondequoit Lions Club which works with the visually impaired in the area. He has served as a member and president of the West Irondequoit Board of Education. The Irish Children's Program of Rochester has also received John's services as board member and president. This program brings both Catholic and Protestant children from Belfast together in Rochester to promote peace in a neutral setting where the two religions exist side by side without emotional upheaval. Most recently, John has finished a two year term as the president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and has boosted that organization to heights of financial stability and a level Christian charity that would bring a great deal of pride to any individual of Irish ancestry. John and his wife of 44 years Mary Anne, have been blessed with four children of their own and now have the opportunity to spoil seven grandchildren. It is not surprising to find that John lists family as his first interest in life. His list is rounded out with travel, sports (skiing), genealogy, Irish language, exercise, and of course, community service. With all of this love labor, John makes his life as many of us should strive for: service to family and others above self with relentless caring and profound reasoning about what is good for all. John is most deserving of this leadership award and his model is one that we can each learn a great deal about what it means to be a contributing member of any community.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - John Finucane
John Finucane grew up in the lovely village of Tarbert, County Kerry, the second of five children born to John D. and Annie Finucane. In his own words, it was there that he received his most valued treasure: his Faith. John came to the United States in 1962 and, at age 18 joined the U.S. Air Force and spent four and a half years in service for his adopted country. One of those years was in spent serving in Viet Nam. He began college while in the service and graduated from the University of Rochester in 1974. Returning to Rochester in 1967, John became involved with the Irish Community as President of the Rochester Harps Club, captain of its Irish Football team, and helped raise funds for Irish charitable causes. He married the "greatest gift this country gave me", his wife Peggy, and the couple were blessed with 5 children. His involvement with the Irish community during this time was mostly through Ted McGraw's Irish Radio program as a storyteller and creator of "The Unreal News." In the 1970's and 80's, John and Peggy became involved in resettlement of refugees from Laos, Viet Nam, and Cuba. Some of them lived with the couple for a time. During the past decade, his involvement with the local Irish Community has been as co-organizer and emcee of the annual November Testimonial for honored local Irish personages, emcee at the annual Irish Festival for the Men in Kilts Contest; a couple of stints as emcee for Dady Brothers' concerts; and trainer / adviser to the local Irish Football team, Rochester Erin's Isle. John worked for Xerox directly and as contractor for 39 years. Within his Church, he has been involved for many years as volunteer, parish council member and President, lector / lay leader, and where ever needed. "It is a proud thing to be Irish, and America is a wonderful place to be Irish". Wordsmithing* is something John relishes. Creating a song, poem or story for special occasions (anniversaries, graduations, weddings) gives him much pleasure. "I am very proud of my Irish family for its preservation of the Faith under historically sad and mean times. My father, uncles, two brothers and I, all from Ireland, served in the U. S. Forces throughout the world during the last century. One of our sons is currently in the U.S. Air Force and another on the Rochester City Fire Department. I am extremely proud of the members of my family who have a sense of compassion and are involved in caring for others. I am proud to receive this honor for my family." We, the parade committee, are equally proud to have John Finucane serve as the 2011 St. Patrick's Parade Citizen of the Year.
BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR - Kathleen Graim - TOPS Friendly Markets
Kathleen Graim has been a familiar face in the Rochester community for several years through her work at Tops Friendly Markets. She began her tenure working for the Tops family in 1988 as a bakery clerk. As she developed a knack for baking, cake-design and the culinary arts, Kathleen her worked her way up the ranks to Bakery Manager in 1990 and then to a position within Tops' corporate office as Bakery Field Specialist in 1998. Kathleen's dedication and uncompromising work ethic continues to earn her the respect of her peers and Tops' management team, and has led her to receive Tops' "Superior Service to the Stores" award in 2006 and 2007 as well as the company's "Commitment to the Community" award in 2007. Even greater than Kathleen's passion for creating elegantly designed, delicious confections is her desire to give back to the community, both personally and professionally. In 2007 Kathleen changed career paths and accepted the role of Community Relations Specialist for Tops Markets. Since that time, she has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars managing campaigns through Tops for JDRF, Golisano Children's Hospital and Foodlink of Rochester, among other charitable organizations in the Rochester area. Kathleen will be the first to make clear that to her, giving back is not about getting anything in return. She does it because she has true passion for her community and believes that any contribution, no matter how big or small will ultimately help make a difference in the lives of individuals who need it most. When Kathleen is not at work, she most enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, and volunteering with Stone's Buddies, a special, free-of-charge program run by Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, that provides a network of support for seriously ill young children and teens. Even though she may not spend time decorating cakes or creating delicious desserts on a full-time basis anymore, you might just find her at a Tops bakery in her spare time on what she refers to as her "playing in the sandbox days," perfecting a wedding cake, or filling cannoli shells. Kathleen takes much pride in her Irish heritage, and like any good lassie she enjoys listening to Celtic music, attending shows put on by her favorite band, Glengaryy Bhoys, attending local Irish festivals, and enjoying cold, hoppy beverages. Kathleen earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting and Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University at Buffalo. She's received certificates of accomplishment from the Penn State Business Academy and the Tops School of Business along with various certifications in the food industry.
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR - Jody Gage - The Rochester Americans
Our inaugural Sportsperson of the Year is currently in his second season as Director of Player Personnel for the Amerks and General Manager for the Knighthawks. For the past 13 seasons, he has served as General Manager for nine teams (three for hockey, six for lacrosse) that have reached the finals in their respective leagues. Both the Amerks and the K-Hawks have been there under Jody's tenure and he has won titles and crowns with each of the organizations. He also served as general manager for the Rochester Rattlers. In 1999, Jody received the James C Hendy Award as the league's outstanding executive. "Mr. Amerk"; Jody finished his career as all-time leader in goals, assists, points, and games played along with other single season goals. On March 19, 1999, he joined the Amerks Hall of Fame as well as had his jersey raised to the rafters. He was also inducted into the Knighthawks Hall of Fame in 2010 which makes him the only person to be inducted into two Halls of Fame for two professional Rochester sports teams. Jody received the highest of honors when he was inducted into the AHL inaugural Hall of Fame. His reputation as a competitor has followed him into the leadership positions he has held in his career. As a player, Jody was part of three Calder Cup championship teams with the Amerks and one with the Adirondack Red Wings. He is currently being inducted into the Adirondack Red Wings Hall of Fame. This Toronto native was drafted 45th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1979 before signing with the Sabres organization in 1985. Today, Jody resides with his wife, Charlotte, in Chili. The two have a son, Ryan, and a daughter, Stefanie. Jody is an avid and accomplished golfer, when he finds the time. He also enjoys spending time with family. We thank Jody and his service and dedication to this town with all of his contributions and are pleased to announce him as 2011 Sportsperson of the Year for the Rochester St. Patrick's Day Parade.
HONORARY GRAND MARSHALS - Marty O'Keefe and Mary Williams
Martin O'Keefe was born in Querrin, County Clare, Ireland on November 1, 1912 and is the youngest of four surviving children of Katie and Jim O'Keefe. A fisherman by trade, he began playing music as a young man and brought his West Clare style to New York in 1947. He married Theresa Curley in Rochester and they had eight children, 19 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Marty's achievements are nearly as numerous as his years. In fact, it bears categorization to recognize his many feats while on this earth. Music is the method by which many of us have met Marty. Marty is a member of the Comhaltas Ceoltiori Eireann (as well as a member in their Hall of Fame) and plays the fiddle, concertina, accordion, and tin whistle. He is one of the original members of the Irish Musicians Group (1950's) with his brother, Jack and performed in Mitzie Collins "St. Patrick's Show at the Hochstein" for nearly 20 years. Marty has participated in the International Willie Clancy Music Festival in Miltown Malbay, County Clare for over 20 years as a performer and instructor and he is an entrant in the Irish Music Archives in Ireland. At home, Marty has performed on the Dady Brothers Erie Canal CD (commemorating the 175th anniversary of the canal) and released a CD at the age of 90 (2002) - "Dawn On the Hills of Ireland". As an actor and musician, he has been in many local theatrical productions and is a regular attendee of the Irish Musicians Sessions held bi-monthly in Rochester, Lima, and Batavia. As you might fathom, Marty uses the music as a medium to extend a hand to the community in such endeavors as: the Genesee Country Museum's Fiddler's Fair, the Rochester Irish Festival, a member of "Happy Gang" (a group of musicians who played at local nursing homes), Geneseo University's St. Patrick's Show (with the University String Band), the St. Patrick's Day Parade, multicultural events at Nazareth and St. John Fisher colleges and Batavia Elementary Schools, and local Irish Dance Schools from the wee-ones to the adults. It is of no surprise to find Marty engaging (or having been engaged) in other forms of community service like: the work of The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Rochester Harps Club (and one time vice president in the 1960's), a Knights of Columbus Member for 20+ years, and a member of the Sister Cities Committee for the City of Rochester. Marty is also a supporter of the Irish Cultural Institute. As if being a renowned musician and humanitarian wasn't enough, Marty is also known as an enveloping storyteller and published poet and in both Ireland and the United States. Marty has received many honors along the way and the ones most mentioned are his 1985 Co-Grand Marshal award for this St. Patrick's Day Parade and the 2005 Mayor's Renaissance Award. Marty is currently under the loving care of his daughter Mary in her home and has been a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Greece for 36 years where he attends mass daily. Over the years, Marty O'Keefe has done and meant a tremendous amount for/to the community, let alone for the Irish heritage. Now, he serves this community again, this time as the Honorary Marshal for the 2011 St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Mary Sloan Williams, a native Rochesterian and active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) for nearly 70 years, has been a pillar of the South Wedge community all of her life. Residing first on Rising Place, a small hamlet off of Richard Street on the city's southwest side, Mary's Irish Catholic heritage has paved the way for a faith-filled life richly full of experience. Raised as an only child born to Mary Moore and Thomas Sloan, Mary attended Blessed Sacrament, where she received every sacrament, from Kindergarten through the eighth grade before completing her secondary studies to graduate from Nazareth Academy in 1941. After marrying Donald Williams in December 1943, the couple raised two sons, Thomas of FL and Gary of WI who both went on to pursue careers in the field of education. In addition to her two sons, Mary is also graced with the blessing of three grandsons, two granddaughters, and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to Mary's family life, her professional career included work experience at Bauch & Lomb, Delco, and finally the Genesee Hospital where she retired from after 26 years in 1985. Through the challenge of being a soldier's wife during WWII when she saw her husband Don only twice during the first three years of their marriage to having to adapt to the life of a widow after 51 years when Don passed away in 1994, Mary's love for life and the opportunities it has beheld for her have shaped the experience of a kind, upstanding individual whose accomplishments and zest for life are only rivaled by her sense of humor and her desire to do more with this rich life she's been given. Mary continues to enjoy her membership in the AOH as well as her continued membership in the Delta Epsilon sorority, which she first joined as a sophomore at Nazareth Academy. In addition to these, Mary is an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction writings, she keeps up on current events reading the daily newspaper from cover to cover; she regularly attends RPO performances; and enjoys getting out as often as she can to share a meal and hearty laughter with the plethora of family and friends who are blessed to be counted among those in Mary's circle of love. We all love our Co-Honorary Marshal for this 2011 St. Patrick's Day Parade.
