The Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade does more than bring the community together and remember Irish-American contributions to society.
It is also time to remember and honor people who have made a difference, including the grand marshals for the 20th annual parade on Sunday, March 11 at noon, Eileen and Peadar Tierney, as well as 16 posthumously remembered honorary grand marshals.
The parade committee estimates that some 20 marching bands will take part in the parade this year, thought not all details have been finalized.
In addition to marching bands, typically at least 50 to 75 schools and businesses, as well as community, civic, fraternal and labor groups march in the parade each year.
Families of honorary grand marshals that the Bronx Times is reaching out to are saying that they are creating banners for their loved ones, inviting family from other states and regions, and are generally thrilled that the parade committee chose to remember their deceased loved ones.
Helen Rosenzweig said she would be marching to remember her mom, honorary grand marshal Maureen Zawar, who was a bartender at an Irish-themed Throggs Neck bar.
Rosenzweig said that her mom lived in Locust Point for her entire life, and when she was not at work on the day of the parade, she would be on East Tremont Avenue enjoying it.
“She especially loved the Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” said Rosenzweig. “She loved seeing all of her friends at the parade, as well as people from the community that she never got to see (regularly).”
Rosenzweig said the she was deeply touched when two members of the parade committee came to visit her at work on East Tremont Avenue to tell her that her mom had been selected as one of the honorary grand marshals.
“I know she is up there and is thrilled,” she said. “The people who knew her loved her and she made many friends.”
Zawar’s two children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, will be marching with a banner remembering her, said her daughter.
Andy Werkhoven, son of the honorary grand marshal with the same name, said his father would enjoy the parade every year with his family.
“The whole family would meet at Harding Avenue and watch the parade every year,” said Werkhoven.
Werkhoven’s family have created buttons and a banner which they plan on using to honor him in the parade, with his son confident that their patriarch will get a big turnout.
Fr. Paul Devine and Brendan Devine are honorary grand marshals from the same family, with their brother Pat saying that his brother Fr. Paul was deeply involved in Irish causes in Ireland.
The honorary grand marshals are Angela Berger, Sean Brunner, Ted Carstenson, Brendan Devine, Fr. Paul Devine, Anthony DiGirolamo, Florence Robinson Evers, Mary Elizabeth Finucane, Joseph Francis Finucane, James Kelly, Robert Leidy, Winifred ‘Kay’ Loreth, Lynn Marie Rasmussen-Devine, Charlie Reilly, Andy Werkhoven and Maureen Zawar.
The parade steps off at noon on East Tremont Avenue from Lafayette Avenue, with the reviewing stand at Harding Avenue.
