Regina McGannon Begley, 2016 Aide to the Grand Marshal
Born in the Bronx on September 19th, 1956 Regina is the second child of Patrick & Mary (Crotty) McGannon. Both of her parents were born in County Clare, Ireland. Regina has an older brother, Pat and a younger sister, Mary. The McGannon’s moved from the Bronx to Washington Heights in 1964. Regina graduated from St. Elizabeth’s grammar school in 1970 and attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart of Mary where she was a member of the Junior Varsity basketball team in her freshman and sophomore years. She graduated from SHM in 1974 and from Manhattan College in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Marketing. While at Manhattan, Regina served as an officer on the Commuter Student Council, was a member of the Gaelic Society and was a member of the first women’s basketball team at Manhattan. Regina and her fellow Lady Jaspers were honored by the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 for their contributions to women’s sports at Manhattan.
Regina joined the LAOH in 1996 as a member of Division 17, Long Beach. Within 3 years, she was elected Treasurer and has held an office on Division 17’s executive board for 14 of the last 16 years, including several terms as Division President.
Regina was elected to the Nassau County Board in 2003, serving since in several positions, and is currently the County Board President. She has been a dedicated volunteer for the annual AOH Nassau County Feis and Festival since 2002 and took on the arduous task of Dance Chairperson in 2007; a position she still holds.
In 2006, Regina was named Division 17’s Woman of the Year and served as Aide to the Grand Marshal in the Long Beach Irish Day Parade. In 2009, Regina was named LAOH Nassau County Woman of the Year and in January 2015 she was honored at the AOH Nassau County Ball as the 2014 Feis Worker of the Year.
In 2013, Regina was elected to the LAOH New York State Board and is presently serving as the LAOH NYS Irish Historian. In 2015, Regina served as the Local Co-Chair for the 2015 AOH/LAOH NYS Convention.
Not only is Regina an Aide to our Grand Marshal Paul Long, she has also received the high honor this year of being appointed as Senator George J. Mitchell, Grand Marshal of this year’s historic 2016 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Regina has been employed by New York Life Insurance Company for the past 37 years and currently holds the position of Corporate Vice President in the Insurance Technology Department. Regina is an active member of the company’s Volunteers for Life program working to improve the quality of life for others through service to the communities surrounding New York Life’s Home Office in Manhattan and the New York Life Westchester campus where she works. She has participated in the Back to School program, the annual food drive, the winter coat drive and the Christmas Gift Giving program.
Regina is a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Island Park and for several years has lent her support and time at the Parish’s annual San Gennaro Feast.
Regina has been married to her husband Peter K. Begley for 16 years. They have no children of their own but are the proud aunt and uncle to eleven wonderful, successful and talented nieces and nephews; two grand nieces and one grand nephew.
