Glen Cove, NY (January 25, 2012) – The Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has named Glen Cove Deputy Mayor Maureen Basdavanos Grand Marshal of the 24th annual Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade with Sioban Rack and John J. Hanley Aides.
The Parade will take place on Sunday March 18, 2012 using the same route, starting at the Finley Middle School on Forrest Avenue and weaving through the streets of the city, ending at St. Patrick’s Church.
Maureen Basdavanos is a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and also the daughter of AOH Division 8’s namesake Mike Moran.
“It is such an honor to be asked to lead this year’s parade as the Grand Marshall,” Basdavanos said. “There is no better St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Long Island thanks to the AOH Mike Moran Division 8. I only wish my dad were here to march beside me.”
Maureen Basdavanos (nee Moran) is the Deputy Mayor of Glen Cove, appointed in 2008 by Mayor Ralph Suozzi. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Glen Cove C.A.R.E.S. and a Board member for the Glen Cove Business Improvement District (BID), the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Sounds Committee, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission and is a long-time supporter of the Glen Cove Animal Lover’s League. Basdavanos was an active member of the Glen Cove High School Booster Club volunteering with her husband Bill to photograph and report weekly on all JV and Varsity sports. She was also a long-time volunteer Cheerleading Coach for Glen Cove Jr. Football and Cheerleading and a Cub Scout leader. She is married to former Glen Cove fire chief Bill Basdavanos and has two grown children.
Sioban Rack (nee Lane) is Associate Director of Special Events of SCO Family or Services and the immediate past president of St. Dymphna Division 8 of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. With corporate contacts, volunteers and donors she has provided Christmas for hundreds of children and adolescents every year, arranged trips and special outings, and recently, working with the Garden of Dreams foundation, she has even enabled some of our children to perform at Radio City Music Hall. She is married to Jim Rack and has a 16 year-old son James.
An active attorney in the community, John Hanley ran for Glen Cove City Council a number of time, most recently last year. He is also the immediate past president of Mike Moran Division 8 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and also served as Vice President and Marshal. He currently serves on the Glen Cove High School Community Scholarship Committee and is Past President of the Catholic Accountant’s Guild of Rockville Centre. He is married to the former Teresa Esposito and has three daughters.
About the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee: Founded in 1989 by the Mike Moran Division 8 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the parade is in its 24th year, celebrating Irish culture on the North Shore. Over the years, the parade has had politicians, celebrities and Irish dignitaries serve as Grand Marshal. The committee comprises of members of the Mike Moran Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the St. Dymphna Division of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.
About the Mike Moran Division 8 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians: Now in its seventh decade, the Mike Moran Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians serves to promote Irish culture, history, music, traditions and charitable giving. Membership is open at all men age 16 and over, who are of Irish birth or heritage, and are practicing Catholics. For more information, please visit their website at www.glencoveirish.org or contact Division President Joe McDonald at 516-522-0741 or by email at joe@hiberniandigest.com.
About the St. Dymphna Division of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians: Founded in 2002, the St. Dymphna Division of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians serves to promote Irish culture, history, music, traditions and charitable giving. Membership is open to women age 16 and over, who are of Irish birth or heritage, and are practicing Catholics. For more information please contact them online at www.glencoveirish.org or contact Division President Lisa Forgione at 516-759-9481 or by email at lisaf22@optonline.net.