Peter K. Begley, Aide to the Grand Marshal, 2016

Born in Manhattan on May 13, 1955, Peter is the first born child of Gerald and Phyllis (Short) Begley (of Springfield, Mass.)  Along with his younger sister Jerilyn, Peter is second generation Irish-American.  The Begleys moved from Kew Gardens Hills in Queens to Point Lookout in 1966, and settled in Island Park in 1967.  Peter graduated from the Island Park School District in 1970 and graduated from West Hempstead High School in 1974.  He attended the State University of New York at Morrisville A&T College and SUNY Farmingdale Agricultural and Technical College for Electrical Engineering Technology.

Peter has been employed in the defense electronics industry on Long Island by such companies as Sedco Systems, Aeroflex Laboratories, and Sperry/Unisys, holding positions ranging from Test Technician to Test Engineer.  He has had a private computer consulting business since 1988.

In 1990 Peter joined the Island Park Volunteer Fire Department, rising through the ranks to Captain of the Original Engine Company No. 1, and becoming a “Life-Member” in May, 2015, and is still an active member today.  He also joined the Nassau County Firefighters Emerald Society that same year, and is currently that group’s Vice-President.

Peter became a member of AOH Division 17, Long Beach NY in 1990.  He is currently the Vice President of the AOH Nassau County Board, where he has also served as Sentinel, Marshal, Standing Committee Chairman and Recording Secretary.  He can be found lending a helping hand at many Hibernian events such as the Annual Picnic, the Semi- Annual Drawings, the Nassau County Feis, Stand Up for Life, and the San Gennaro Feast in Island Park.  He has been a member of the Long Beach Irish Heritage Day Parade and Festival committee since it’s start in 1991.

Peter would like to thank the Parade Committee for the honor to serve as an Aide to Grand Marshal (and Good Friend/Brother Hibernian) Paul Long in the 2016 Glen Cove Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.