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Past Honorees

 

2017 Citizen of the Year

Gayle Shalvoy

  • 28 February 2017
  • Author: Chris Shalvoy
  • Number of views: 2065
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2017 Citizen of the Year
Gayle Shalvoy is an active member of the community, not only with “all things Irish” but with her church, sports, politics, work, and family. She has been married to Chris Shalvoy (2009 Citizen of the Year) for 31 years and has worked at Rochester Software Associates for 18 years where she is the manager of the Customer Service Technical Support team. Gayle is a current and active member of the Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Society and President of the LAOH (Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians).

2017 Grand Marshal

Dr. Barry Culhane

  • 28 February 2017
  • Author: Chris Shalvoy
  • Number of views: 3038
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2017 Grand Marshal

Dr. Barry Culhane is both the Executive Assistant to the President and an associate professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Barry is a Rochester native, attending Gates-Chili High School and then going on the University of Windsor in Canada. After college, he served in the US Army as a medic from 1969-71.

Barry serves on the Al Sigl Community of Agencies Board of Governors and the Al Sigl Community of Agencies Board of Directors, where he served as Chair from 2004-06. He currently serves on the Capital Campaign Committee and helped initiate the alliance between Al Sigl and RIT to focus on research to increase “Access and Inclusion”.

2017 Community Organization of the Year

Catholic Charities Community Services

  • 28 February 2017
  • Author: Chris Shalvoy
  • Number of views: 2582
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2017 Community Organization of the Year

Catholic Charities Community Services began in 1980, in response to a call from Roman Catholic Bishop Matthew Clark of the Diocese of Rochester to address the unmet needs of those with developmental disabilities. They opened their first residential home in Lyons, NY for 12 individuals who were moving from institutional settings to a place they could truly call home.

Today Catholic Charities continues the tradition of supporting the independence and inclusiveness of individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as many others who have significant health challenges, including traumatic brain injuries, and HIV/AIDS. Annually they serve over 3,000 people of all faiths and backgrounds throughout the 12 counties of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester with a variety of services including: 13 residences, programs that support the independence of care coordination, behavioral health programs and efforts that help people find jobs and stable housing.

2017 Sports Person of the Year

Jenn Suhr

  • 28 February 2017
  • Author: Chris Shalvoy
  • Number of views: 3123
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2017 Sports Person of the Year

Jenn Suhr is a 17 time US Champion, World Record Holder, World and Olympic Champion in the pole vault.

Jenn Suhr grew up in Fredonia, New York and got involved in sports at a young age, playing softball when she was only six years old. At nine, she competed in an adult golf league with her grandfather. At Fredonia High School, she played softball, basketball, soccer, and track and field, and won the New York State pentathlon title as a senior in 2000.

Jenn went on to Roberts Wesleyan College, where she competed in basketball, as well as track and field. She graduated as the school all-time leading scorer in basketball… and with a bachelor degree in psychology.

2017 Honorary Marshals

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann

  • 28 February 2017
  • Author: Chris Shalvoy
  • Number of views: 2609
  • 0 Comments
2017 Honorary Marshals

The Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (Col-tus Ceol-tori Erin) also known as the Irish Musician’s Association, is the world’s largest cultural organization involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music and song. The Comhaltas (Col-tus) as they are commonly known, is a non-profit cultural movement with hundreds of local branches around the world, including 70 in North America. The local chapter here in Rochester was founded in 1986, and is named the Tom Finucane Branch, after a beloved former local musician.

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