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.