St. Patrick’s Day 2020 Honorees
United Irish Societies 178th Greater Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade:
Grand Marshal: Tom Scanlon
Irish Mother: Kathleen Mangan
Inside Co-Chair: Maureen Mohney
Outside Chair: Chris Cooper
Thomas J. Scanlon: Grand Marshal
Thomas J. Scanlon was born on Cleveland’s West Side on March 25, 1938 to Thomas J. and Marie (Grady) Scanlon and traces his roots to Co. Mayo. His Scanlon family has been in Cleveland since the 1870s, where they lived in the old “Irishtown Bend” area and Tremont. A stained-glass window in St. Augustine Church still bears his family’s name. Tom is married to Anita Scanlon; they have four daughters and many grandchildren. Tom lives in Westlake and is a member of St. Bernadette Parish. His sister is a Notre Dame nun.
Tom received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from John Carroll University in 1959, then graduated from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law, cum laude in 1963 and was an editor of the Cleveland Marshall Law Review. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1963; the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in 1964; U.S. Tax Court in 1975; U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1976; U.S. Claims Court in 1978; and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987.
Tom is an accomplished lawyer, with his primary practice areas including business law, real estate law, condominium law, taxation, probate, estate planning, trial and appellate law. Tom’s many civic and charitable affiliations reflect his Irish heritage, such as leadership roles and memberships in The Irish American Law Society of Cleveland (board member, past president and founding member);Irish American Archives Society (board member and officer); Irish-American Charitable Foundation (board member); The Mayo Society of Greater Cleveland (board member and officer).
Tom Scanlon has been affiliated with non-Irish organizations as well such as the West Side Ecumenical Ministry (past board member and president); Centers for Families and Children; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America, Northern Ohio Chapter (past board member and president);Cleveland Pops Orchestra (past board member and president); Gordon Square Arts District (past board member); Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (past board member); Cleveland Marshall Law Alumni Association (past board member and president); University Hospitals of Cleveland Leadership Council (trustee and secretary).
Tom has been honored by many organizations for his leadership and efforts, including: The Irish American Archives Society, Walks of Life Award, 2004; Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Alumni Association, Alumnus of the Year, 2007 and a later induction into the CM Law Hall of Fame; Pillar Award for Philanthropic Activities and Support, 2009; Selected nationally as part of the Irish Legal 100 since 2009; Cleveland International Hall of Fame, 2014; ORT Jurisprudence Award, 2017.
Kathleen Mangan: Irish Mother of the Year
Kathleen is the oldest of ten children born to Katie (nee O’Malley) and Peter Mulchrone from Buckagh, Newport, Co. Mayo, Ireland. In 1961, at the age of 16, Kathleen immigrated to Cleveland and came to stay with her Aunt Bridget and Uncle Jim O’Boyle. Far away from her home in Newport, Kathleen bravely embarked on her new life as a domestic for a family in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Here she met friends and enjoyed learning about life in America.
The West Side Irish American Club (WSIA) was an important center of socialization and comfort for the young Irish of Cleveland. Kathleen met her future husband, John “Con” Mangan (Dooagh, Achill, Co. Mayo) at the WSIA on Madison Avenue. They married in 1966 at St. Rose Church. Kathleen and Con are the proud parents of two sons: Michael (Sue) and John (Katie) and are blessed with six grandchildren: Katie, Michael, Declan, Allie, Jack and Conor.
Preserving Irish culture and family life has always been important to Kathleen and Con. Before she was widowed in 2004, Kathleen and Con travelled back to Ireland both as a couple and with their sons on many occasions. One memorable journey involved the Achill-Cleveland twinning ceremony in 2003. Both Kathleen and Con served on the committee to organize the event.
After Con’s death, Kathleen continued to travel back to Ireland with her family. She even had the opportunity to share her love and knowledge of Ireland with each of her six grandchildren during one very special holiday.
Kathleen worked for 33 years at Baldwin-Wallace University in the ID office. After her retirement in 2012, Kathleen was able to broaden her involvement with the WSIA. She is always ready to lend a hand in one of the many volunteer committees that are the heartbeat of the club.
Kathleen has helped with the Claddagh Ball, Friday fish fries, annual clambake, weekly cleaning crew and countless other events. In 2015, she was honored as the WSIA Woman of the Year.
Kathleen is a great supporter of all the Irish events in Cleveland, including the Mayo Society, Famine Mass Ohio Irish American News and Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival. Furthermore, Kathleen has donated countless hours to charitable organizations. Kathleen and Con both contributed their time and talent to Fr. McNulty’s St. Augustine benefit. More recently, Kathleen has devoted her time as a committee member for Fr. O’Donnell’s annual benefit.
Above all, Kathleen values faith, family and heritage, dedicating her life to her family and many Irish organizations. Proudly, she shares her knowledge and love for Irish culture with all who know her. With humility and selflessness, Kathleen serves her culture and family, truly a beloved Irish Mother of the Year.
Maureen Mohney: Inside Co-Chair
Maureen Mohney is the daughter of Patricia (nee Gill); significant other of Jimmy Campbell; has four siblings, Michael (Becky), Kathy (Bryan), Neil and Colleen (Mark); and five nieces and nephews, Erin, Sean, Patrick, Brian and Shannon. Maureen is a lifelong resident of Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood and is a graduate of Our Lady of Angels, St. Joseph Academy and John Carroll University.
Maureen has been employed by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland for 25 years; she started at the Diocese while in high school, worked her way through college and accepted a full-time position after graduation. Most of Maureen’s career has been spent in the Information Technology Department.
Involved and active in the Irish community for many years, Maureen attends various events all over town. She is a long-time member of the Irish American Club – East Side, the West Side Irish American Club, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Our Lady of the Rosary Division and St. Pat’s-St. Jarlath’s Gaelic Football Club, where many lasting friendships have been formed.
Maureen joined St. Pat’s Gaelic Football Club as a player in 2001 and held several board positions over the years. In the years when Cleveland was unable to field a ladies team, Maureen and a few of the “Cleveland contingent” joined Detroit St. Anne’s to continue playing competitively. She was a key player in bringing home the first Ladies Gaelic Football National Championship to the Midwest Division in 2010.
In 2019, the St. Pat’s-St. Jarlath’s Gaelic Football Club officially resurrected the Cleveland Ladies team; Maureen was chosen as team captain and honored as the 2019 Ladies Player of the Year.
Maureen joined the United Irish Societies in 2002 as a delegate for St. Pat’s Gaelic Football Club. In 2016, Maureen was invited to become a Deputy Director and is currently serving as Recording Secretary, where she handles fundraising related to Guarantor Sashes and maintains the IT needs of the Committee.
Maureen was previously honored by the United Irish Societies as Queen Deirdre in 2002; and the recipient of the Thomas McManamon Executive Directors Cup in 2017.
Christopher Cooper: Outside Co-Chair
Christopher Cooper is a third generation Irish American, whose family members emigrated from Counties Mayo, Meath, Galway, Wexford and Cork. He is the fourth of five children born to the late Robert and Anna Mae (nee Kane) Cooper. Chris and his wife Kathleen (nee Campbell) are the proud parents of seven children and grandparents of 10. Their children are Eileen Reed, Kathleen, Margaret Cavelli, Christopher Jr., Mary Clare Piascik, Michael and Patricia. They are the grandparents of Catherine, Megan, Mary, Julia, John and Bernadette Reed; Annabella, Fiona and Vincent Cavelli; and Thomas Piascik.
Chris attended St. Anselm Grade School and graduated from St. Joseph High School. He was a self-employed remodeler and then became a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Later, he worked as a supervisor and manager and was appointed Postmaster of Novelty, OH in 2009.
Chris enjoys celebrating his heritage and sharing his skills in a variety of areas, encouraging family and friends to join in the projects too. He has volunteered for the Greater Cleveland Feis Society for 20 years. He first served four years as 1st Vice President and then 12 years as President from 2006-2018. He was active in the Murphy Irish Arts Association and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 1999. He then served four years as President for the Association.
A member of the Irish American Club – East Side, Chris can be seen enjoying traditional Irish social dances with his family. He assisted with the Club’s Children Christmas Shows for over 10 years and is a committed volunteer on the clean-up days at the Irish Cultural Gardens.
Parish and school are also important to Chris. For eight years, he was on the committee for the Holy Cross Parish fundraiser, Life on the Lake, serving as the chairperson for four years. Chris and his family are members of Ss. Robert and William Parish in Euclid. Where he volunteers at the Parish festival, plants and maintains the church flowerbeds and is also an usher.
In the community, Chris has been a trustee for the Shore Haven Club for over twenty years, serving as president for 15 years. He helps maintain the club grounds and does needed repairs. He also organizes events throughout the year to enhance and support his neighborhood. He has volunteered with the Euclid Lyric Guild, organizing fundraisers and presenting shows.
Closer to home, Chris and his family enjoy living in Euclid and celebrating their Irish heritage. It is common for them to push back the furniture and dance in the living room. If an accordion is handy, the music is live, but Irish CDs are always close at hand.
Cleveland Hibernian of the Year
Robert Fitzgerald
Robert (Bob) Martin Fitzgerald was born on May 5, 1932 to Mary Agnes McDonald and Martin Fitzgerald in Cleveland Ohio. Bob attend Immaculate Conception for Grade School, where his family were very active members. He attended Cathedral Latin, and then Fenn College to study Accounting.
Bob is a proud Veteran of the United States Army, where he fought in the Koran War and saw heavy combat as an infantryman with the 8th Calvary Regiment. Returning to the States, Bob put his accounting training to work at Lyon Tailor. His time away from work was spent playing baseball on teams all over the city. When he was not playing, he attended many Cleveland professional team sporting events. His love of sports put Bob on a train ride to Buffalo NY to cheer on his beloved Cleveland Barons, where he met the love of his life, Ann Corrinne Quinlan. They were married on Aug 16, 1958, and together nurtured six wonderful children: Bobby, Jeanne, Mary Alice, Kathleen, Sharon and Sean.
Bob and Ann always instilled the importance of family, Catholic faith and Irish heritage in their children and later their five grandchildren. The doors were always open at the Fitzgerald household: Bob’s quick wit and stories make it easy for others to feel at home. They always welcomed their family, friends and members of St. Paul Parish in Euclid, where the family belonged until it was closed. Bob is now a member of St. Jerome’s Parish in Cleveland.
Bob continued his accounting career at the Cleveland Board of Education and then worked as a tax auditor for the State of Ohio until he retired. He has been an active member in the Holy Name Society and severed as President of the organization at both St. Paul’s, and St. Jerome’s and was also the Dioceses President. The organization honored him as their member of the year.
Bob is an active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Bluestone Division along with his sons Bob, Sean and son in-law Tommy. He has been their delegate to the United Irish Society for the last three years. He is also a long- time member of the Irish American Club Eastside, where his daughter currently services as president. Bob enjoys attending many functions with his children and grandchildren; watching his grandchildren march with the fife and drum, pom-pom unit and do Irish dancing always brings a smile to his face. Bob sell tickets for many events at the club and was a key organizer of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Raffle.
Irish American Club East Side
Member of the Year: Jim Burke
West Side Irish American Club
Queen: Fiona Chambers
Woman of the Year: Annie O’Donnell
Man of the Year: John Quien
Volunteer of the Year: Judy Keller
Queen: Fiona Clare Chambers
Fiona Clare Chambers is the daughter of Kathleen (nee Campbell) and Dan Chambers. She has four siblings, Danny, Emmett, Ronan and Bridget. She is the proud granddaughter of Mary (nee Mulchrone) and Eddie Campbell and the late Eileen (nee Gallagher) and Dan Chambers Sr. Her ancestral ties to Ireland are from Co. Mayo; Mary is from Buckagh, Newport, Eddie is from Doona East, Ballycroy and her paternal great-grandparents were from Westport and Mulranny.
Fiona has been a member of the WSIA all her life. At the age of 5, she started marching for the WSIA as a majorette, joined the flag corp and finally the pom-pom unit. Through her four years of high school she led the Majorettes for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. In the years 2014 and 2016, the unit was selected as Best Children’s Unit in the parade. Fiona Irish danced for ten years at Leneghan Academy of Irish Dance. She also played volleyball and basketball for many years while in school.
Fiona attended St. Mary of the Falls and Magnificat High School and is currently in her junior year at The Ohio State University studying Health Sciences. She has been on the Dean’s List every semester and hopes to attend dental school after graduation. In her spare time, she works at the OSU College of Dentistry, is a member of Ohio Staters, Inc. (a student service organization on campus) and volunteers with the College Mentors for Kids program.
Following in the steps of her parents and grandparents, Fiona has dedicated countless hours of service in our community and abroad. She participated in the Arrupe program after school and during summers to help underprivileged students in the near westside of Cleveland while in high school, delivered meals to the homeless in Cleveland through the St. Benedict Joseph Labre program and traveled to Ecuador on a week-long mission trip. Fiona enjoys spending time with her family and friends, travelling (especially to Ireland), volunteering and helping others. Fiona’s court includes her sister Bridget Chambers and good friend Colleen Drellishak.
Woman of the Year: Annie O’Donnell
Annie O’Donnell (nee Duddy) was born to Michael and Kathleen Reid Duddy on January 7, 1938 on a farm in County Derry, in Northern Ireland. Along with her brother Mario, Annie was raised with a love of baking and cooking she inherited from her mother.
Her mother was a housekeeper that worked for an Italian woman who taught her culinary skills. At a young age Annie began Irish Dancing. At the age of 12, she was the All-Ireland Irish Dance Champion. She is very proud her picture still hangs in Guild Hall in Derry alongside the cup she won.
In addition to traveling for Irish dance, in 1950 Annie’s mentor took her to Italy to celebrate the Holy Year at the Vatican in Rome, a memory she will never forget. In her teenage years Annie worked at a fish and chips shop, drycleaner and as a bookkeeper for a butcher shop.
In 1958 she arrived in Cleveland, Ohio and became a nanny to two small children. When she arrived, she met John O’Donnell and they were married in 1964. They welcomed their son Sean the following year. John and Annie remained active in the community until John passed away in 1970.
Annie was active in and joined St. Raphael Church in Bay Village. She was active on their school board, Boy Scout troop, and president of the Ladies Guild. She still remains active in The Archangels.
Years later she was involved at St. Edward’s High School and became Chairwoman of their Ways & Means Committee, chaired the fundraiser spaghetti dinners for four years and chef for the Brothers of Holy Cross for years.
Annie’s is especially proud of her son Sean. He became an Eagle Scout, graduated from St. Edward High School in Lakewood and is the General Manager of Flannery’s Pub in downtown Cleveland.
The WSIA Club has been Annie’s family, her home away from home. You can often find her behind the bar on Saturday afternoons in the Pub as the “beverage goddess,” as she has been a volunteer bartender for many years.
Annie has been the Co-Chair for the annual Chili Cook-Off, which recently held its 9th annual event. She enjoys being a member of the WSIA McNeeley Library Committee and served as Chairwoman for the 2016 McNeeley Meals and Memories Cookbook. Most recently Annie was the Chairwoman for the first Afternoon Tea and Fashion Show in 2019.
Man of the Year: John Quien
John Quien was originally from Erie, Pennsylvania and graduated from The Erie Academy High School. John continued his education at Edinboro State College (now Edinboro University) with a bachelor’s degree in Education with a concentration in English and History. At Edinboro, John meet his lovely wife Kathy and they have been married for 48 years. Together John and Kathy have been blessed with an amazing daughter and son, and four wonderful grandchildren.
After a 39-year career as a sales manager for S.C. Johnson & Son in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Syracuse and Cleveland, John retired in 2012. After retirement, John and Kathy moved from Strongsville to North Ridgeville and it was then that they became active at the WSIA club.
John started cleaning on the Egan’s Tuesday cleaning team and quickly signed up to clean every Tuesday. He also became an active member of McDonough’s Brigade, helping with the Christmas decorations, and the New Year’s Eve Party Team. In the past few years John began working with Bill Rice’s maintenance crew.
The team’s biggest projects have been renovating the Pub and adding a new bar, television, sound and speaker system in the pavilion. In addition, two years ago John was selected to become a member of the Board of Trustees for the club. He has been instrumental in handling the clubs fire suppression system and working with the local fire department to protect the beautiful property.
Volunteer of the Year: Judy Keller
Judy Kellar is the daughter of Fred and Elaine Kellar (both deceased). She has a sister Kathy. Judy has lived the majority of her life in North Olmsted and attended North Olmsted High School. Her English Cocker Spaniel, Brandie, is her constant companion.
Judy enjoyed providing clerical services for many different companies during her career, including Central National Bank and The Illuminating Company. Her final position was with Dostal Bokas Funeral Services, from which she retired in May 2015.
While riding the North Olmsted Bus Line in 1992, Judy met someone who introduced her to the West Side Irish American Club. She became a very active member, working on all the Fish Fries as a member of McDonough’s Brigade. She has participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, marching in the Members Unit. She continues her volunteer activity with the club and is currently helping with the Tuesday group, as well as with the meals on meeting nights. In addition, she will fill in wherever she is needed.
Judy has several hobbies, but her passion is classic cars. She owns two “ragtops” – a 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS and a 1965 Ford Galaxie 500. Judy likes to take them for a ride to enjoy the good weather and scenery of Cleveland, especially along the lake. She has also been an integral part of the Annual Car Show at the WSIAC. Other hobbies include photography and listening to music, especially the Beatles. Judy has appreciated being able to travel to Ireland several times.
The Daughters of Erin (Central Ohio)
Member of the Year: Cheryl Costello
Shamrock Club of Columbus
Irish Woman of the Year: Peggy McCathern
Irishman of the Year: Msgr. John Cody
Parade Marshal: Hilda Doyle
Parade Grand Marshal in Memoriam: David Hartigan
Members of the Year: Tom Motika & Mike Murphy
Presidents Awards: Joe Byrne, Patrick Fallon, Nora Feeney, Devin & Stacie Stearns
|The Big Dog: Karen Fahy
Front row: Colleen Collins, Daughters of Erin Vice President; Katie Somers, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Franklin County Countess de Markievicz Division President and Megan Malloy, Member of the Year; Ken Stebleton, Patrick Pearse, Division I, Hibernian of the Year; Clann na nGael Honoree: Lisa O’Connell-Paccioretti; Mike Murphy, Shamrock Club Co-member of the Year; Hilda Doyle, Shamrock Club Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Marshal, Msgr. John Kelly Cody, Shamrock Club Irishman of the Ye
Back row: Cheryl Costello, Daughters of Erin Member of the Year and Daughters of Erin Peggy McCathran, Irish Woman of the Year; Scott Partika, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Patrick Pearse Division President and Ed Norris, Commodore John Barry Awardee; Mike Redmond, Clann Na nGael Trustee; Tom Motika, Shamrock Club Co-member of the Year; George Doyle Gamber, Shamrock Club President and Nora Feeney, Shamrock Club Presidents Awardee; Sarah Cross, Emerald Society of Columbus President and Dan Callahan, Member of the Year
LAOH Division #6 Golden Rose Queen of Ireland Mahoning County
Irish Woman of the Year: Maureen Coughlin
Clann na nGael Honoree:
Honoree: Lisa O’Connell-Paccioretti
Greater Columbus Irish Cultural Foundation
Honoree: Townsend W. Quinn
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Patrick Pearse, Division I
Hibernian of the Year: Ken Stebleton,
Commodore John Barry Award: Ed Norris
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. Franklin County Countess de Markievicz Division
Member of the Year: Megan Malloy
Emerald Society of Columbus
Member of the Year: Dan Callahan
AOH 2020 Irish Man of the Year
Terry McCarthy