Installation of Grand Marshal John J Callaghan for the Northern Westchester Putnam Saint Patricks Day Parade

Friday February 7, 2014
Centennial Golf Course 
185 John Simpson Road Carmel NY 10512
6pm till 9pm 

$35.00 per person 
Door prizes and 50/50 Raffle 

Bio of 

John J. Callaghan

John was born on October 13th 1943 to Margaret and Charles Callaghan in Ardnawark, Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland. He is the oldest of eight children and was educated at Barnesmore National School, Donegal Technical School and Mercy College, New York.

At age 18 he immigrated to Scotland in search of employment. He worked for Mitchell Construction Co. in Inverness, Scotland and in Yorkshire, England for a few years.

On February 14, 1964 he immigrated to the United States. He quickly found work with The New York Telephone Company. On June 7th 1965 he was drafted into the United States Army. After completing Basic and Advanced Infantry Training in Fort Dix, New Jersey, he was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Division in Fort Lewis, in the State of Washington. John served with the 4th Army Division in Vietnam, earned the Rank of Sergeant and was honorably discharged in June 1967. He returned to New York and went back to work for the Telephone Company. He was promoted to Installation and Repair Foreman in 1969 and retired in April 1995 after 31 years of service.

In 1969 John met Mary Houlihan from Waterville, Co Kerry. They were married in October of 1971 in Our Lady of Refuge Church in the Bronx and lived in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx for the next two years until they moved to Mahopac in Oct. of 1973.

John and Mary are the proud parents of three children, Debbie, currently working and living in Putnam County, NY. Sean (Deceased January 1980) and Christopher who works and resides in New York City with his wife Mary and their son Sean Matthew.

John joined the Emerald Association of Putnam County in 1975 where he has held various elected roles including serving on the Executive Board, Vice President for 5 years and President for 4 years. He served as Chairman of the Feis Committee for 6 years and the Associations representative on the Westchester/Putnam St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for 8 years. He is currently the Chairperson of the Welfare Committee and the Scholarship Committee.

He is an active member of the:
V.F.W. Post 5491, Mahopac.
The American Legion Post 1080, Mahopac.
Telephone Pioneers of America.
Knights of Columbus, Fr. Mooney Council 5743 Mahopac. (Financial Secretary for 9 years)
Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Mother Cabrini Assembly 1572.
The Society of Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Putnam County.
St. John the Evangelist Church, Mahopac – where he serves as a Eucharist Minister.
The Holy Name Society, is currently Recording Secretary
He represents Ireland, the Irish and Irish-American parishioners of St. John’s at its Annual Heritage Mass. 

John is very proud of his Irish Heritage and thankful for being a member of The Emerald Association. He enjoys the comradery within the association and the community and working with so many wonderful families over the years and is looking forward to furthering the growth of The Emerald Association.

It is with great pleasure that the Emerald Association presents the name of John Callaghan as Grand Marshal of the Northern Westchester and Putnam County St. Patricks Day Parade for 2014.