Costenbader to lead parade as the 2022 grand marshal

“Thank you to the officers, trustees and members of the Nutley Irish for the honor and privilege to be the grand marshal of the 44th 2023 Nutley Irish St. Patrick’s Day parade,” said Francis J. Costenbader. Costenbader was born and raised in Belleville, the third of Ed and Marie Costenbader’s four sons. He graduated from St. Peter’s Grammar School, Seton Hall Prep and Mount Saint Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, Md. Costenbader received his juris doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law and master’s of law degree from New York University School of Law, Graduate Division. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1963 and has been practicing law in Nutley since 1964. Initially an associate attorney with the Nutley law firm of Donohue and Donohue, Costenbader became a partner in Donohue, Donohue, Costenbader and Beck and then a partner in Donohue, Donohue Costenbader and Strasser. He has been a sole practitioner in general practice since 1994.

In 1966, Costenbader married Priscilla Bruschi of Maplewood and ultimately lived in Millburn, where they raised their four children, Jim, Paul, Kate and Kris. Priscilla was very supportive of his “Irish Thing.” Beginning in 1965, before they were married, they started a tradition with friends, Dave and Maureen Haight, to get together on March 17 for a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, one year at their home in Belleville and next in the Costenbader’s home in Millburn. They did this every March 17 until the Haights retired to Pennsylvania in 2019. After Priscilla was called to her eternal life in 2007, after 41 years of marriage, the best 41 years of his life, instead of Millburn when it was his turn, they went to Shannon Rose or Michael’s Roscommon House to maintain the tradition.

Costenbader comes by his Irish heritage from his father's mother, Ann Moriarity, who came from St. Johns, Newfoundland; his mother’s mother Mary Neilis, who came from Glasgow, Scotland; and his mother’s father, Michael Danaher, who was born in the 1st Ward N.Y.C.; but his father, Martin Danaher, came from Limerick, Ireland. He was smuggled out of Ireland to avoid conscription into the British Army. He didn’t want to fight for the British, but ended up fighting for the Union in the Civil War, for which he earned his citizenship, like so many other Irish immigrants. According to Costenbader’s DNA test, he is 74 percent Irish.

The “IrishThing” for him consisted of membership in the Nutley Irish and its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, Member of the Year 2004, the annual March 17 dinner with the Haights, listening on Sunday afternoons to Ceol na nGael on WFUV, two trips to Ireland, naming his dachshund Guinness and teaching his African Grey parrot to say “God save Ireland, up with the Republic.”

Costenbader is presently legal counsel and longtime member of Nutley Irish American Association, legal counsel and past president of the Nutley Chamber of Commerce, past president and trustee of 1st Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey, life member and past exalted ruler of Belleville Elks, past president of Nutley Lions Club and treasurer of the Nutley Lawyers Club.

“Congratulations to my fellow dignitaries: Deputy Grand Marshal Joe McNish, Member of the Year JoAnn Dunleavy, Police Officer of the Year Steve Plumer and Parade Queen Allison Connor,” said Costenbader. “It is a special honor to have been chosen with them for the 2023 celebration. Looking forward to a grand day and a successful 2023 Nutley Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“In the words of Richie Clark in 1978, ‘Let’s Have A Parade.’”

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