For decades, Thomas Mahoney has helped make Rockville Centre a community where families and traditions endure. Next March, the longtime MacArthur Park restaurant proprietor will take center stage as grand marshal of the village’s St. Patrick’s Parade, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary while raising money for three charities.
The Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade Committee recognized Mahoney, along with its three charitable beneficiaries for 2027, during the kickoff party Sept. 25 at Centre Station. The beneficiaries are The Maurer Foundation, the G2H Foundation and Anam Cara, an Irish organization that provides bereavement support to families who have lost a child.
For Mahoney, 64, the honor recognizes decades of supporting the village where he raised his three children, helped build a longstanding family business and became a fixture in community life. He said he was surprised by the announcement but excited to be selected.
“I was very excited about it,” the Island Park resident said. “Very excited, thought it was an icon that the parade committee picked me to do it this year.”
Ashley Brennan, the parade committee’s president, said Mahoney was a natural choice for the milestone year. He has supported the parade since its inception and has remained involved in village life through his business, family and charitable work.
“He's been such a great supporter and an advocate for us,” Brennan said. “He's a community person. He's raised all those kids in Rockville Centre. He's been a part of every aspect of Rockville Centre.”
Mahoney has served the community in various capacities since 1972, when his father established MacArthur Park Restaurant. Mahoney has been involved with the restaurant since 1980 and has helped sustain its place in the village for decades.
He was a former manager of the Rockville Centre Little League and continues to sponsor a team. He has also supported youth basketball and other community organizations, often providing space at the restaurant for coaches and league organizers to meet.
Brennan said Mahoney’s generosity extends beyond financial contributions. He has made his restaurant available to community groups and has consistently supported organizations seeking help.
“He is so generous with his time and anything that he can give to us, he has,” Brennan said. “He helps a lot of organizations.”
Mahoney, married to his wife Donna for 43 years, said his family’s experiences with youth sports helped shape his commitment to keeping children involved in their communities.
“I feel it was important and a big part of their life,” Mahoney said. “And I think it's important for these kids today to play sports and let them keep involved and keep busy.”
That commitment was also evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. When MacArthur Park received money through the parade committee’s March for Small Business program, Mahoney donated the funds to his employees, believing they needed the assistance more than the business did.
The parade committee’s charitable selections also include an organization with deep Rockville Centre ties. The Maurer Foundation, founded by Virginia Maurer, who is originally from the village, focuses on breast health education and breast cancer prevention.
The foundation provides educational programs in schools and other settings to help young people understand breast health, recognize potential warning signs and learn about steps they can take to reduce their risk. Its educational outreach has reached Rockville Centre schools and expanded nationwide.
Brennan said the foundation’s emphasis on education and awareness made it a strong choice for the parade’s charitable program.
“Awareness really starts with education,” Brennan said, describing the foundation’s approach to helping people better understand breast cancer prevention and early detection.
The third beneficiary, Anam Cara, provides emotional and practical support to parents and families in Ireland following the death of a child. Its programs include bereavement support and therapy, with funds directed toward services for grieving families.
The G2H Foundation, based in Long Beach, was also selected. Founded in memory of Gerrin Hagen, the organization supports youth sports, scholarships and community causes. Brennan said the foundation’s growth and commitment to helping children participate in sports made it a good fit for the parade.
“They are a relatively young organization, and what they've been able to do so far has been amazing,” Brennan said.
She added that G2H’s strong presence in Long Beach gives the parade committee an opportunity to expand its reach beyond Rockville Centre. The committee is exploring a possible event in Long Beach, though details have not been finalized.
The three charities reflect the parade committee’s tradition of supporting local, national and Irish causes. Brennan said the organization surpassed $1 million in charitable donations over its first 29 years, making the upcoming anniversary an especially meaningful milestone.
For Mahoney, the parade has long been a family tradition, with generations of residents returning each year to celebrate together.
“It's just a big family event,” he said. “I watch people who were kids who now have their own kids coming to this event.”
He is looking forward to marching alongside his children and six grandchildren, some of who will travel from out of state for the occasion.
The 2027 Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade is scheduled for March 20. Mahoney said he is particularly excited to see the crowds gathered along the route, including near his restaurant.
