West Orange St Patrick's Day Parade Guide March 12, 2023

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The 70th annual West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Celebrating its 70th year, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a one of the most popular traditions in Downtown West Orange and one of the preeminent St. Patrick’s Day events in the Garden State.

Arguably the best and most celebrated of more than 30 St. Patrick’s Day parades taking place throughout the state, the West Orange parade attracts thousands of onlookers and hundreds of marchers, including Irish American organizations, fraternal, community, and school groups.

The parade has a small and understated beginning, when the Irish American Society of the Oranges and the Frank O’Hara Association would march along only half of West Orange’s Main Street, and then catch a bus to join the larger parade in Newark.

It wasn’t until 1974 that the parade size and route were expanded to what they are today. Throughout its history, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has reflected the role the Irish American community has played in West Orange and the region, and the official Parade Committee includes many children and grand-

children of its original founders.

The festivities kick off with the traditional morning mass, which organizers point out is something that makes it unique from other parades. This year, the mass will be at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake, Pleasant Valley Way in Verona, and will be attended by parade honorees and organizations. Immediately after the service, all will gather in Downtown West Orange, joined by thousands of friends, family, and visitors cheering on parade participants.

The parade steps off at 12:15 p.m. from the corners of Mount Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. The procession will make its way north on Main Street and end at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1 Eagle Rock Ave.

This year’s parade honorees include long-time and current West Orange residents Michael “Mike” McCormick, who will serve as the 2023 grand marshal, and Downtown West Orange Alliance (DWOA) Executive Director Meg McNerney Brill, who will serve as one of three deputy marshals.

Born and raised in West Orange,

Grand Marshal Mike McCormick will be honoring the historic lineage of West Orange McCormicks, which stretches back for 135 years, beginning with Mike’s great-grandfather John McCormick immigrating from French Park, County Roscommon in 1888.

John McCormick founded the first police department in West Orange. Mike’s grandfather was also West Orange police officer who upon retirement, worked alongside Thomas Edison. Mike and his wife Karen can always be found supporting and promoting the Irish American community at yearround events in West Orange and throughout the state.

Mike is also the vice president of the Michael T. McCormick, Jr. Memorial Foundation – named after his son, Michael Jr., who was suddenly taken from them on his 19th birthday in 2009. The Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of scholarship dollars to assist deserving students in the community.

“I am truly honored to serve as Grand Marshal for this commemorative 70th parade,” McCormick said.

Morning Mass

The 2023 Mass will be held on Sunday, March 12 at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake, Pleasant Valley Way, Verona. Honorees and organizations are requested to assemble at 8:30 a.m. in the front of the church.

Parade Route

The Parade steps-off promptly at 12:15 p.m. from the corners of Mount Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. The Parade route makes its way north on Main Street and ends at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Complimentary Shuttle Buses

Complimentary shuttle buses are provided to transport marchers and spectators to the starting location of the parade at Town Hall. The buses begin boarding at 10:30 a.m. on Mississippi Avenue adjacent to Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Buses will stop promptly at 11:45 a.m. Parking is available but limited at Quigley's Parking Lot next to Mississippi Avenue and the surrounding streets.

McCormick chosen as 2023 grand marshal

Mike McCormick was born and raised in West Orange, the oldest of three children, with sister Kathleen coming next and then brother Brian, born to Thomas Jr., and Nora “Pat” McCormick. Before Tom passed away in 2014, Tom and Pat were happily married for 56 years, and had their wedding reception at The Manor in West Orange in 1958.

The historic lineage of McCormick’s in West Orange stretches back for 135 years, beginning with Mike’s greatgrandfather John McCormick immigrating from French Park, County Roscommon in 1888.

Upon arriving in the States, he was greeted by the Blizzard of ’88, but kept the faith and stayed on to create a legacy for generations to come. John started out as a gardener in Llewellyn Park, and once West Orange created the official police force in the 1890’s John found his calling and joined what might be referred to as the “first class” of the West Orange Police Department. His badge number was 8.

Years later, John’s son Thomas Sr. - Mike’s grandfather - joined the rank and file of the West Orange Police Department and remained a lifelong resident of West Orange. As a child Mike remembers the stories his grandfather told about his retirement years when he ended up working alongside Thomas A. Edison at his laboratories on Main Street in West Orange.

Mike’s mother, Nora’s family’s Irish lineage begins with her father, Michael Kerr who hails from Portsalon, County Donegal. He came to the United States at the age of 15 with his father John and 2 brothers Daniel and George. His mother, Margaret Sweeney Kerr and sisters Nellie and Peggy, came later. Nora’s mother, Mary Kerr, came to the United States in 1920 at the age of 18. She came through Ellis Island, by herself, from Gortiness,

Cloghan, County Donegal. Michael’s maternal grandparents met in Brooklyn, NY and were soon married. They eventually settled in Newark, where Nora “Pat” was born, the 4th of 5 children.

Mike’s passion for the Shillelagh Club came from watching his parents work and volunteer their time in promoting their Irish heritage and comradery. Mike is very proud of the years of service he has given to the Club including serving on the Executive Board as corresponding secretary, in addition Mike headed up the Annual Dinner Dance Gala as chairman. Mike and his wife Karen can always be found supporting and promoting the Irish

American community at year-round events both in West Orange and throughout the state.

Currently, Mike works in the property management business. In addition, he is the vice president of the Michael T. McCormick Jr. Memorial Foundation – a foundation named after their son, Michael Jr., who was suddenly taken from them on his 19th birthday in 2009.

The Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of scholarship dollars to assist deserving students in the community including Seton Hall Prep, and Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. In addition to scholarships, the foundation also supports many community organizations including the West Orange Police Athletic League. The foundation was very proud of its work in providing a new digital scoreboard erected in right field at the PAL complex in 2018.

Thirty-three years ago, Mike married Karen Kodman McCormick (Irish on her Mother’s side – the McKeon’s from County Sligo, the province of Connacht and the Beirne family from County Roscommon in the province of Connacht), and set about to raise their family in West Orange. Together they were blessed to raise two children, Michael Jr., and Meaghan. Mike and Karen are looking forward to an exciting year ahead as Meaghan, who has recently completed her professional schooling at RSDM and her residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, became a licensed dentist. Meaghan recently became engaged to Dr. Marcus Santo, also a dentist. The happy couple are planning a September 2023 wedding and continuing the McCormick West Orange lineage. The joke in the McCormick household is that the wedding will be a West Orange “homecoming” as Meaghan has also kept her strong ties to her hometown like her generations before.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Parade day road closures and parking

Several roads will be closed on Sunday, March 12, for the annual West Orange St. Patrick's Day Parade on Main Street.

Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic at Northfield Avenue and at Harrison Avenue from approximately 11:15 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. Eagle Rock Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic at approximately 11 a.m. eastbound at Crest Drive (Eagle Rock Reservation) and to all traffic at Mountain Avenue.

Mount Pleasant Avenue will be closed

to vehicular traffic at Gregory Avenue, eastbound and to all vehicular traffic at Laird Drive. Ancillary Streets along the Main Street corridor may also be closed as needed. Emergency No Parking signs will be placed along the parade route and ancillary streets along the parade route.

Vehicles in violation of parking restrictions will be ticketed and towed at the owner's expense. For questions, please contact the West Orange Police Department at 973-325-4000.

Shaffer honors her Irish roots in parade

Michele McCue Shaffer was born in East Orange to William Spanky McCue and Ann Durkin McCue.

Shaffer is proud of her Irish heritage and roots, which are on both sides. Her paternal grandparents are from Donegal and Sligo, and her maternal grandparents are from Mayo and Roscommon.

Shaffer grew up in the Doddtown section of East Orange, attending Holy Name Grammar School, and then moved to Denville in Morris County. She attended Morris Knolls High School, Class of 1979, Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, Class of 1983, and received her bachelor of science in human resources from the College of St. Elizabeth with the Class of 1995.

Shaffer’s father, Spanky, was an East Orange fireman for almost 40 years and the proprietor of McRoy’s Pub in Clifton. Her parents were very involved in the Essex County Irish Community, including the Cryan Association, the Ruane Association, Project Children, the Women of Irish Heritage, the Shillelagh Club, the Essex County Emerald Society, and many other organizations. Shaffer’s parents were adamant about instilling Irish culture, tradition, and pride. The West Orange Parade was a coveted event for the McCue family, and still is for the Shaffer family. Growing up, the families that ran the parade were affectionately referred to as “our West Orange Camelot,” signifying the importance and royalty of this parade.

Shaffer’s father was deputy grand marshall of the West Orange Parade in 1994, walking proudly with Fran McEnerney, Susan Quigley Aker, and John McCrone. Her godmother, Ann Cully Malkinski was deputy grand marshal in 2007.

Shaffer had promised her parents that the Irish heritage and culture they had instilled in the McCue family would be continued with their grandchildren and generations to come. In particular, that Shaffer and her family would continue to support the West Orange Parade and

work toward being an honoree.

Shaffer is active in her church, is the unit chairperson for the American Legion Girls State Program, and a volunteer for Wreaths Across America. She is also involved in the Eddie Mal Association, is a member of the executive board for the Women of Irish Heritage, and a member of the executive board for the Sisters of St. Brigid, and the Irish American Association of the Oranges.

She continues to be an active supporter of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh and the Essex County Emerald Society. The Shillelagh Club has always been and always will be a special place, having grown up here and knowing how important the Club was to her parents, and 2022 was an especially endearing year when the Club nominated her as Friend of the Friendly Sons for her work and support of the organization.

Shaffer and her husband, Steve, have been to Ireland three times since they got married and look forward to another trip upon retirement.

Shaffer is married to Stephen Shaffer, and they reside in Denville. They have three daughters – Anne, currently working on her master’s degree at Stockton University; Molly, a criminal justice/sociology major, graduated from Moravian University; and Colleen, a politics/journalism major, graduated from Sacred Heart University.

Brill shows her commitment to parade

Meg McNerney Brill has been a lifelong resident of West Orange but traces her Irish roots back to Dublin, Ireland.

Brill was born Margaret Eileen McNerney and will be celebrating her 60th birthday on March 18. Brill’s parents, Howard and Dolores McNerney, bought their family home in the 1950s in the St. Joseph’s neighborhood.

Brill has 2 sisters Evelyn Jean and Shirley Beth and while their parents have passed away the family continues to be close and love spending time with each other’s families.

Brill graduated West Orange high school in 1982 and will forever be a West Orange High Cowboy. Brill’s husband Rick Brill graduated from West Orange Mountain High in 1983. Together Rick and Meg live, work and have raised the two boys in town. Matthew and Luke attended West Orange schools and have successfully graduated college; Matt from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Luke from Kean University.

Brill’s previous work experience includes 10 years in New York City with The American International Group (AIG). Shortly after leaving AIG, she began raising a family and working in downtown West Orange with her husband, Rick, as owners of Advantage Pest Control. Currently Brill is the executive director for the Downtown West Orange Alliance and has led the organization for the past 10 years.

Over the years, Brill has been elected twice to the West Orange Board of Education, is an active member of the Life Christian Church, is a Rotarian and past president of the West Orange Rotary Club. She also served on the planning committee for the Vietnam Traveling Wall Memorial and with the high school scholarship fund, raising thousands of dollars in all her positions. Together Meg and Rick are involved in every aspect of life in West Orange and truly love calling West Orange Home.

“The parade, which is what we always called it, has been a family tradition for the McNerney’s ever since we could remember,” she said. “I’m honored, humbled, and excited to march this year alongside my family and the other honorees.”

Hughes serves as deputy grand marshal

Deputy Grand Marshal Rich Hughes was born Aug. 14, 1961, at St. Michael’s Hospital in Newark.

He is the second of three children by the late Aloysius and Marianne (Sedges) Hughes and is brother to Aloysius Jr. and Christine (Baragona). Hughes’ grandparents, Edward and Gladys Hughes, moved their family to Newark at a time when many Irish families were moving away from Pennsylvania`s coal mining regions because they were harshly affected by widespread mine closings.

Edward found work in ironworking which was booming in Newark during the 1950s and 60`s. Rich`s father Aloysius and two brothers, Jerry, and John, who also had a sister Patricia, followed in their dad's footsteps working out of Ironworkers Union Local 11 in Bloomfield. His mother Marianne was a lifelong server, working in several West Orange locations, including The Tory Corner Diner, Ann`s Clam Bar, and Rock Spring Country Club.

Rich Hughes moved to West Orange in 1969 at the age of eight. He attended Washington and Fairmont Grammar Schools, Edison Middle School, and West Orange High School. While in school, he excelled in sports, earning all-state honors in football and wrestling his way to a championship in New Jersey District 8 Tournament his senior year in 1979.

After his school years, he continued his passion for sports playing in several adult

softball and flag football leagues and playing rugby for the Newark Shepherds. Hughes also enjoyed coaching in the West Essex Youth Wrestling and football programs.

Rich marched in his first West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1979 as an aide to the grand marshal for the late Terry O`Reilly. He Joined the Irish American Society of the Oranges at the age of 22 in 1983 and went on to serve as sergeant of arms, vice president, and president. He has carried their banner with pride in the parade for more than 35 years, most years with best friend John O`Reilly, and recently with his son Rudi Hughes.

In that time, he has supplied the banner and flags for the parade`s yearly morning mass. He is also the father of

Casey Hughes, his eldest, and is proud to say that both son and daughter have marched in every West Orange St. Patrick`s Day Parade since their birth.

Whether pushed in a stroller by their mother Margaret O`Reilly, who was the 2010 deputy grand marshal, or eagerly helping dad carry the banner and flags, it has always been a treasured tradition in the family. He has also enjoyed being chairperson for many of the IASO`s annual picnics and served in the past as the society`s delegate to the parade committee.

Hughes is the chief engineer at the Doubletree Newark Penn Station Hotel, where he just celebrated his 30th year.

He is a 43-year member of Local 68 Operating Engineers of West Caldwell and is a graduate of their apprenticeship school. He holds a Red Seal license in steam generation and a Blue Seal license in refrigeration. He has also worked for the West Orange Board of Education, Macy's in Menlo Park, and Bloomingdale's in Short Hills. He is a member of the Red Bank Elks and is a long-suffering fan of the New York Jets and New York Mets.

Rich and his wife Filomena (Loffredo) who is also a 1979 West Orange H.S. graduate reside in Red Bank and love to cook, entertain, and travel. They look forward to the upcoming West Orange St. Patrick's Day Parade festivities and invite all family and friends to join them for a walk-up Main Street on parade day.

An Irish Blessing from Our Lady of Lourdes For 2023

West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade

+ May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. +

CONGRATULATIONS TO

MIKE MCCORMICK, 2023 GRAND MARSHAL

MEG MCNERNEY BRILL, 2023 DEPUTY MARSHAL RICH HUGHES, 2023 DEPUTY MARSHAL

MICHELE MCCUE SHAFFER, 2023 DEPUTY MARSHAL

9:

7

, Monday March 13 – Friday March 17 (EVENING)

5:30 pm, Saturday March 18 (EVENING)

9:30 am, Sunday March 19

7 pm, Monday March 20, St. Joseph Feast Day (EVENING)

Weekend Mass – Saturday Evening 5:30 pm

Sunday Morning – 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am

Daily Mass Mon. – Fri. 8:30 am Confessions Saturdays – 4:15 to 5 pm

Parade has a long, storied history of innovation

The roots of the West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade can be traced back more than 70 years to two organizations that are still involved today.

The Irish-American Society of the Oranges and the Frank O’Hara Association would march south along the west side of Main Street from Our Lady of Lourdes to the present site of the old A&P parking lot. Upon reaching there, they would board buses and proceed to the Newark parade.

In 1974, however, a permit was obtained from the police department to expand the parade so the route was extended to Township Hall and it occupied the full width of Main Street.

It was also during this time that the parade was dedicated to Archbishop Thomas A. Boland, and that a reviewing stand was arranged at the West Orange Community House.

In 1976 the Parade Committee was formed and then officially incorporated in 1977. This initiative was led by the first Parade Chairman Patrick J. Melvin. It was through Melvin’s vision that the modern parade was born.

Melvin died in 1996 one day after the parade and he remained an officer of the committee till the day of his passing. Coincidentally, Boland’s last public appearance was at the parade in 1979 and he died just five days after the parade he loved so much.

The formation of the committee expanded the financial as well as the physical base of the parade. The first formalized parade was held in the bicentennial year of 1976 and it has grown exponentially from its modest beginnings through the continued dedication of the committee.

The committee today is composed of many children and grandchildren of that “beginning” generation. The parade has now become the preeminent parade in the state as few can match its unique combination of dignity, class and size.

Thousands of marchers, including Irish-American groups in the area, frater-

nal, community and school groups, are attracted to the event. A very unique tradition of this parade is the fact that all participants are encouraged to attend mass together as a prelude to the march.

The mass has become a beautiful part of the day as the marchers are led in by the Shillelagh Pipe Band. The mass gives the marchers pause to remember the unique intertwined nature faith plays in Irish culture and how St. Patrick brought this spiritual gift.

Due to its appeal, the location of the parade mass is rotated yearly between the parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of the Valley, Our Lady of the Lake, St.

Joseph’s and Our Lady of the Lake, Verona.

The parade’s other tradition is its annual investiture ceremony. This event is the social highlight of the St. Patrick’s Day season. This is the official swearing in ceremony of the parade’s grand marshal and deputy grand marshals. The piping in and announcing of all the former parade honorees from previous years highlights the event.

The newest honorees are presented with their sashes that day and formerly introduced as part of the “parade family.”

The parade continues to grow in size and respect as witnessed by larger turnouts of marchers, spectators, and the attendance of senators, governors, congressmen, and other elected officials. It has also grown because of the familyatmosphere that has been provided and the family traditions it has fostered.

The committee has been an innovator in improving the parade in many ways. The advent of flags, banners, posters, websites, pins, and corporate sponsorships has evolved to the point where the parade has a unique look and feel.

The West Orange parade has been a social innovator in having the first woman grand marshal and first woman chairman of any parade in the state. The parade committee today continues to be progressive with a relatively young committee which features women in many of the leadership roles.