Two parade founders tapped to lead Rockville Centre St. Patrick's parade

The Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade Committee has chosen two of its original founders, Joseph F. Kelly and Bud Cosgrove, to be the co-Grand Marshals of the 15th annual parade, scheduled for March 19.

“It is extremely fitting that we honor two of the founders of the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade as our Grand Marshals,” said Parade Committee Co-Chairwoman Kathleen Schwarting in a written statement that noted their tremendous efforts in support of the parade they helped start.

“Without the vision of Bud Cosgrove and Joseph Kelly, our parade wouldn’t have been possible. Throughout the 15 years of the parade, both men have remained active and through their efforts we have raised over $622,000 for 42 charities. They both truly exemplify our motto, ‘The Parade that Cares and Shares.’”

Kelly and his wife, Dianne, have lived in Rockville Centre for almost 40 years, and have three children and nine grandchildren, all of whom live nearby and will be marching on that day. Kelly is a graduate of St. John’s Prep, Niagara University, did postgraduate work at the N.Y.U. School of Business and served as a First Lieutenant with the U.S. Army in Korea.

Professionally, he has had wide experience in the financial field, with previous associations with A.G. Edwards, Prudential Securities and A.G. Becker & Co. He is recently retired from Janney Montgomery Scott in Garden City. Kelly has served as chairman of the Federal Agency Committee of the Public Securities Association, as an executive committee member of the U.S. Primary Dealers Association, and he has been listed in “Who’s Who in American Finance.”

On the charitable side, after helping organize the first Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade, Kelly served as chairman of the Parade Committee, and Dianne served as the committee’s secretary. He has also served as Chairman of the Maple Avenue Task Force, Chairman of the Rockville Centre Environmental and Beautification Committee from 1978 to 1983, and he is a past member of the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Long Island. Kelly received the Edward D. Riley Award and the Joseph P. Molinari Award from the Villanova Educational Foundation and is Chairman of The Reverend Thomas Concagh Scholarship Fund at St. John’s Prep in Queens.

“Dianne and I, our three children, their wonderful spouses, and our nine cherished grandchildren will be proud to be marching in our best green in the parade to celebrate America’s and Rockville Centre’s Irish heritage,” Kelly said.

Bud Cosgrove and his wife Suzie have lived in Rockville Centre for 42 years, and have six adult children and seven grandchildren. Cosgrove earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from SUNY Brockport, a Masters degree in Physical Education and Recreation from Columbia University, and is a Vietnam-era Army veteran, serving with the 269th Signal Company in Orleans, France during the Berlin Wall and Cuban missile crises.

Professionally, Cosgrove began as the Assistant Director for Recreation for the Town of Hempstead, where he played an integral role in the planning and implementation its nationally recognized ANCHOR program. After leaving that position, he served for 25 years as one of the founders and executives of the Nassau County Department of Recreation and Parks. As Deputy Commissioner, Cosgrove had responsibility for the operations of the county’s active park system. Since 2000 he has been the director of senior wellness and special needs programs at SportSet Health and Fitness Club on Maple Avenue, and he has been an Adjunct Professor at C.W. Post University in its School of Management—Health Care and Public Administration for over 30 years.

On the charitable side, after helping to organize the first Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade, Cosgrove served as co-chairman of the Parade Committee for 10 years, and he remains active on numerous sub-committees of the parade. He also served for 12 years as a trustee of the Village of Rockville Centre.

“I am very proud of this honor and especially that I will share it with Joe Kelly,” Cosgrove said. “I want to thank the board and the committee for selecting us, and our families, friends and neighbors who have been so supportive over the years.”