For 40 years the Great Irish Fair of New York has highlighted and honored the work done by members of our Irish-American community in New York. This year we continued with that tradition of honoring those who have gone above and beyond.
Kevin Cummings
Chief Brehon
Kevin Cummings was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Investors Bancorp and Investors Bank effective May 22, 2018. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of these companies since January 1, 2008 and was appointed to serve on the Boards on the same date.
Mr. Cummings and the Executive Management team are guiding the Bank’s evolution into a full-service community and commercial bank. The Bank’s performance was recognized on Forbes’ “Best Banks in America” list for the last eight years beginning in 2013. In addition, Mr. Cummings is a past recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® New Jersey Award for transforming the Bank into a growth company.
Prior to joining Investors Bank, Mr. Cummings had a 26-year career with KPMG LLP, where he became a CPA and Partner. He was an audit partner in the Financial Services practice in the New York office and lead partner on a major commercial banking client. Mr. Cummings also worked in the New Jersey community bank practice for over 20 years serving many clients throughout the state.
Mr. Cummings serves on the boards of The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, The Federal Home Loan Bank of NY (FHLBNY), Greater Trenton, New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) and The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ). In addition, he has served as the former Chairman of the Board of the NJ Bankers Association.
Mr. Cummings holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from Middlebury College. He earned an MBA from Rutgers University School of Business and gave the commencement address to its MBA graduating class in 2013.
He and his wife, Patricia, have four children. In his spare time he has coached youth basketball in his local community, and has served as the Athletic Director of St. Theresa’s of Avila.
Dick Brennan
The Celtic Cross Award
Dick Brennan is an Emmy-award winning journalist who has spent years following politics in New York. Brennan has also covered national conventions and campaigns, traveled to the Vatican to chronicle Papal transitions, and gone to the Middle East to report on continuing conflicts.
Dick Brennan joined WCBS-TV in 2012 as an anchor and reporter, after previously working at Fox 5.
In addition, he anchors on digital channel CBSN New York, which is also seen on the News at Nine on our sister station WLNY.
Brennan grew up in Queens and attended St Anastasia School, then attended Archbishop Molloy High School and Fordham University in the Bronx.
He’s married with two daughters.
James J. Wrynn, Esq.
St. Thomas More Award
James J. Wrynn, Esq. is NAM's Chief Commercial Officer and neutral. Mr. Wrynn has more than 35 years of professional experience as an attorney, regulator, executive and strategic advisor in the domestic and global insurance and regulatory sectors. In his previous role as the 40th and last Superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department, he managed and streamlined the operations of both the New York State Insurance Department (NYSID) and the New York Liquidation Bureau (NYLB) and oversaw multi-million-dollar budgets that included hundreds of employees and thousands of agents, brokers, and other producers. He also served as the first Deputy Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), the Executive Director of the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), and played an integral role within both the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).
Mr. Wrynn’s Irish heritage stems from both his parents being born in Ireland. His father, James, Sr., was born in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, and his mother, Evelyn (“Nell”), was born in Geevagh, County Sligo. He has also been involved in the Irish Community, having served as Past-President of the Brehon Law Society and the St. Patrick’s Society of Queens. His many roles have also resulted in his involvement in the peace process in Northern Ireland where he has attended numerous meetings, conferences and dealings with the Irish Ambassador, the Consulate General, the British Under-Secretary for Northern Ireland and numerous other parties both here and abroad. Additionally, he was part of the delegation that accompanied President Bill Clinton to Ireland in December of 2000, the New York State Attorney General in March of 2005, the New York City Council Speaker in 2007, and U.S. Senator Gillibrand in 2013.
A life-long resident of Queens, Wrynn earned an accounting degree from St. John’s University College of Business Administration and received his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. While at St. John’s, he was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the National Honor Society in Economics, and was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Mr. Wrynn continues his close relationship with the University, presently serving on the Board of Overseers of the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science; the Board of Advisors of the Peter J. Tobin College of Business; and previously on the Board of Directors of the St. John’s School of Law Alumni Association.
Maura Coughlin
Al O’Hagan Community Champion Award
Maura Lennon Coughlin immigrated to America from Ireland when she was five years old and was raised in Brooklyn, NY. Her parents are Mary Lennon from Kiskeam, Co. Cork and James Lennon, from Newmarket, Co. Cork. Maura is a proud graduate of Fontbonne Hall Academy and Saint Vincents Hospital School of Nursing NYC. In 1989, Maura had the great pleasure of being crowned the Great Irish Fair Coney Island Colleen Queen with esteemed Mayor, Ed Koch. That following year, 1990, Maura represented New York in the Maid of the Isles competition of Skibbereen, Co. Cork. Recently, she was a Deputy Marshall in the Bay Ridge Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in 2016. Replacing her crowns, Maura donned a cap and has had the great fortune of being a nurse for the past 31 years. Currently, she is an emergency room nurse at NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Park Slope. For the last 29 years, Maura has been blessed to be married to her dedicated husband Chris. The Coughlins are longtime residents of Bay Ridge and members and supporters of Clann Eireann Pipe Band, established in Brooklyn in 1930. Maura is a proud mother to Hannah, 26, also a Fontbonne alumna, and Christopher, 24, a Xavier High School alumnus. They love their 14 year old Shepard mix, Jack, and Hannah’s 4 year old chihuahua mix, JoJo. It is a great honor to receive the Al O’Hagan award and Maura proudly accepts this accolade in recognition of Al’s life work and the work of the medical community.
Brenda McCabe
Kathleen Slattery Woman of the Year
Brenda was born and raised in Queens and still resides there today. She has been a lifelong parishioner of Resurrection Ascension Parish where she also attended grammar school, and then went on to graduate from Mater Christi Diocesan High School in Astoria.
Brenda is First Generation Irish Decent. Her father John, hailed from Castlebar County Mayo, and her mother Hanora (nee Twomey) came from Macroom County Cork, Ireland. She is one of six children. Brenda has often credited her parents with setting the foundation for her and her siblings rooted in their Catholic faith to lead lives filled with a strong commitment to service and Catholic education. Brenda’s sisters also work in health care services and her brother is a retired FDNY Lieutenant.
Brenda married her husband Thomas in 1983, also a lifelong parishioner of R.A. His grandparents hailed from the Counties of Leitrim and Cavan. Together they have raised five children, Thomas, James, Anne, Joseph and Timothy who also attended R. A. School, and various Catholic high schools and colleges. In fact, three of their children are proud alumnae of St. Francis College, Brooklyn.
Brenda’s nursing career spans over forty-four plus years. She is a proud graduate of St Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing, and worked over thirty-three years at St Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan where she spent a majority of her time caring for her patients and their families in the Oncology Hospice Unit. In 1999, St Vincent’s honored Brenda with the 150th Anniversary Nursing Award “for exemplifying the fine tradition of nursing”.
In 2010, following the closure of St Vincent’s, Brenda joined Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital doing what she enjoys most; caring for patients at bedside. She presently works on a Medical/Hospice Unit.
Throughout her career, Brenda has always met challenges head on working through many serious health care issues; to name a few: the Aids Crisis, Ebola Epidemic, 9/11, and now more recently the Covid 19 Pandemic. She is steadfast in support of her patients, their families, her colleagues and friends with whatever health issues arise.
She hopes to retire at the end of this year allowing her more time to spend with her grandchildren, participate in more community and church related activities, travel around this great country, and visit with her family in Ireland.
Brenda is so very grateful for the honor of receiving the “Kathleen Slattery Award” from the Irish American Building Society, and hopes that all of you will join her in supporting the Great Irish Fair not only in 2021, but for many years to come!
Caroline Ingram
The Colleen Queen
Caroline Daly Ingram is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, lives in Rockville Centre with her parents Sean and Rita (nee Daly) and her brother Matthew. Caroline is a life long summer resident of Breezy Point, where she has been a Breezy Point Cooperative Lifeguard for the past 2 summers. Caroline's maternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from Ireland. Her grandfather Philip Daly hailed from Virginia, County Cavan. Her grandmother Rita Kavanagh hailed from Emyvale, County Monaghan. Caroline's paternal Greatgrandparents hailed fromTyrone, Fermanagh and Limerick. Caroline is a dynamic young woman with many interests. She has been placed on the Sacred Heart Academy Principal's List with a 4.0 GPA and was recently inducted to the National Honor Society. Caroline enjoys singing and has been a member of St. Agnes Catherdral Choir in Rockville Centre, Jubilee Choir at Bro. Joseph Fox Latin School of Kellenberg Memorial and the Sacred Heart Academy Chorus. She also performed 7 years of NYSSMA Voice solos, in addition to performances at the New York All-County Music Festivals. Caroline's High School sports included Baskelball, Cross Country and Track. Her other co-ciriculuar activities include Irish Club, Mock Trial, Model UN and Student Council. She is also a member of Women in Business and completed the Molloy College Business Summer Seminar. Caroline's commitment to nourishing her religious and spiritual life are demonstrated through her participation in Catholic Ambassadors, Congregation of the Sister's of St. Jospeh Leaders and volunteer work for the homeless at such events as the Midnight Run in NYC. Caroline was an alter server at St. Agnes Cathedral and will complete her training to be a Minister of the Holy Communion in the Fall of 2021. As a product of Catholic School Education and her Irish heritage Caroline is truly honored to be the Colleen Queen of the Great Irish Fair 2021!
Martin Dunne
Paul O’Dwyer Memorial Award
Born at the foot of Sliabh-na-mBan in the village of Mullinahone in County Tipperary, Martin is the third of five children born to Mary (nee Reddy) and “Jacksie” Dunne. He received his early education at Poulacapple N.S. and later at the Christian Brothers School in Callan, County Kilkenny.
Arriving in the United States in 1958, Martin soon involved himself in Irish culture and sports. He joined the County Tipperary N. & B. Association of New York in 1961 and served in many capacities in the organization, including two terms as President – 1979 to 1980 and 2008 to 2009. He was an active member of the Gaelic Athletic Association of New York, and hurled and played football with the Waterford GAA under the leadership of Johnny Phelan. In later years, Martin served as President of the Tipperary Hurling Club of New York.
Martin served his adopted country in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965, and was stationed at Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
A member of AOH Division 4 NY County, Martin currently serves as the division’s Vice President. He is affiliated with the Irish Business Organization of New York where he served as President from 1988 to 1989. Martin actively participates in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and served as secretary for twenty years under the chairmanship of Judge James J. Comerford.
Martin has represented the County Tipperary Association as a delegate to the United Irish Counties Association for more than thirty years. He chaired the UICANY Feis in 1980 and 1981, and remains a feis committee member to this day. Martin also works on the floor committee for the Association’s annual dinner dance.
An avid golfer, Martin can be found playing golf at The Links at Union Vale in Duchess County in his spare time. He is also a member of the Emerald Golf Society of New York since its founding in 1978 and where he served as President for six years, as well as the Crown City Golf Club where he served as Secretary for several years.
Martin has been recognized for his dedication and commitment to the Irish American community many times. In 2013, he was the Guest of Honor for the County Tipperary Association of NY. Martin represented the United Irish Counties Association as an Aide to the Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2016 and an Aide to the Grand Marshal in the Brooklyn Irish American Parade in 2019. In January 2020, Martin was honored by the UICANY as the recipient of their Rose Cosgrove Distinguished Service Award.
Martin currently resides in Middle Village, Queens, New York, and is the proud father of two. His eldest daughter, Catherine Mary, lives in Coachford, Co. Cork, Ireland, and the youngest, Siobhan Anne, in Jackson Heights, New York.
Devoted to promoting Irish culture and sports both in Tipperary and New York, Martin is delighted and grateful to be honored by the Great Irish Fair this year.
Lenard Phelan
Captain Timothy Stackpole Memorial Award
Born at Brooklyn Hospital on September 8, 1966 to Dan and Helene Phelan, I was one of six children. I have four sisters and one brother. Living in Maspeth, Queens, my siblings and I all attended Our Lady Of Hope Grammar School where I was an altar boy and played CYO Basketball. Growing up in a large Irish/Polish family, it was important to our family that we keep our faith and we attended mass regularly. We also maintained many of our cultural family traditions, thanks to our mother, as well as a tradition of basketball passed down by my father.. These same traditions still remain in our family and bind us together today. While attending St Francis Prep High School, I played basketball for four years and football for two years before graduating in 1984.
I attended NYU for a year before joining the NYPD in January of 1987. As a NYC Police Officer, I was assigned to the 10th Pct for three years before switching to the FDNY in 1990. I worked as a Firefighter in Ladder 140 in Queens and Ladder 102 Brooklyn for 8 years before being promoted to Lieutenant in 1998. As a Lieutenant, I was assigned to Ladder 138 in Corona, Queens. After being promoted to Captain in 2003, I was assigned to Manhattan where I worked for two years. I was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2005 and assigned to Brooklyn. I have been a Battalion Chief assigned to Battalion 37 in the Bedford Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn for the past 15 years.
I have responded to many fires and emergencies over the years but none more tragic than September 11, 2001. On that day, we lost 343 Firefighters which included my brother Kenny, who was a Lieutenant in the FDNY and responded with Engine 207 that day. He was a tremendous role model for me and my siblings all our lives. Kenny was a loving husband and father. He has our beautiful children, Kimberly, Erin, Danny and Kenny. He now has a beautiful granddaughter named Kendall Grace.
I have been married for 31 years to my wife Rosemary. We live with our family in Floral Park and are members of Our Lady Of Victory Church. We have 3 children, Kaitlin, Sean and Francis and one grandchild, Hailey. Kaitlin, 29 teaches 1st grade at Beacon Grammar School and was tenured earlier this year, Sean 25 served in the Marine Corp for 4 years based in California and deployed once is scheduled to enter the FDNY in October and Francis who is entering his senior year at Molloy College where he plays point guard on the basketball team.
Kevin Browne
Firefighter Thomas Phelan Award
Kevin P. Browne DNP, RN, CNS, CCRN, has been a nurse for 33 years. A member of the Executive Nursing Leadership Team at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) in New York City, Kevin is the VP, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer. Kevin is responsible for the integration of nursing practice, quality and education for 4000 + Registered Nurses across the enterprise as well as oversight of outpatient nursing operations.
Before this position Kevin was the Director, Critical Care and Pediatric Nursing Services at MSK, Nurse Leader Pre-Surgical Services at MSK; Nurse Leader, Cardiac Surgical Services at Maimonides Medical Center (MMC); Cardiothoracic Clinical Nurse Specialist at MMC; Critical Care Educator at New York Hospital (NYH); and Staff Nurse, Cardiothoracic Surgical Recovery NYH.
Kevin achieved a BS with a major in Nursing from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center School of Nursing in 1987, an MS in Nursing from Columbia University School of Nursing in 1992 and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from St. Peter’s University in December 2018. Kevin’s doctoral work focused on a new phenomenon known as Practice Drift. He is an expert in evidence-based practice methods, cultivating a spirit of inquiry internationally.
Kevin holds appointments as a Clinical Associate Professor, State University of New York - Stony Brook University School of Nursing and Clinical Professor/Research Associate, Lienhard School of Nursing, College of Health Professions at Pace University.
He is a Fellow in the New York Academy of Medicine. He holds dual licensure in New York and New Jersey. He is also licensed as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in New York. Kevin is certified by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Derek Warfield
The Bard of The Fair
Derek Warfield is a historian, singer, songwriter and mandolin player and was the front man of the Legendary Wolfe Tones for over 38 years. He has beguiled and entertained audiences on stages throughout the world and has been their voice with stirring introductions and amusing anecdotes, which has endeared him to countless thousands of Wolfe Tone fans and now Young Wolfe Tone Fans, he has also written and recorded over 70 songs and ballads.
Derek has to his credit released three CDs commemorating the Irish that fought in the Civil War & Revolutionary War along with two books “The Songs and Ballads of 1798” and ‘The Irish Songster of the American Civil War” and he has performed music and song at many American Civil War events and commemorations in Gettysburg, Sharpsburg and Harrisburg with the “Young Wolfe Tones”. He was born in Dublin and is the eldest of four children from Inchicore, Dublin. He was educated at Synge Street C.B.S.and was apprenticed as a tailor only to find music his calling early in his life.
Through his music, songs and lectures Derek has been forceful in reminding the Irish race of their debt of gratitude to the patriots of our past generations and since his departure from The Wolfe Tones in 2001, Derek & The Young Wolfe Tones have performed all over Ireland, France, England, Scotland, Wales, USA & Canada and their popularity has awakened a fresh interest in the song lore of the Irish in the American Civil war and Revolutionary War.
Derek has been presented with the keys to Worcester, MA, New York, Los Angeles and in 2015 himself and the band had the honour to perform for President Obama and many other Irish American dignitaries at the White House on St Patrick’s Day.
Megan O’Malley
Patrolman Edward Byrne Memorial Award
Inspector Megan O’Malley is currently assigned as the Commanding Officer of Midtown Precinct North, which includes St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Diamond District, the Theatre District, Radio City Music Hall, Restaurant Row, Rockefeller Center, and the northern area of Times Square. A nineteen-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, she supervises a staff of 250 uniformed and civilian members.
Megan was appointed to the Department on July 1, 2002 and assigned to the 70th Precinct in Flatbush, Brooklyn following graduation. There, she performed patrol duties and worked in the Special Operations Unit. In September, 2006, she was assigned to Narcotics Borough Brooklyn South as an investigator and later promoted to Detective. In 2011, she was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the 60th Precinct in Coney Island, Brooklyn (home of the Great Irish Fair!), where she performed duties as a patrol sergeant and as the Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit (SNEU) supervisor. Following this assignment, she worked in the Compstat and Special Projects Unit for the Chief of Patrol. In 2013, Megan was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the 66th Precinct in Borough Park, Brooklyn and later, Patrol Borough Brooklyn South. In 2015, she was assigned to the Office of the First Deputy Commissioner, which designs, implements, and reforms policy. In 2016, Megan was promoted to Captain and assigned to Patrol Borough Brooklyn South. She served as Executive Officer of the 78th Precinct (Park Slope, Brooklyn) and the 70th Precinct prior to her appointment as the Commanding Officer of the 76th Precinct (Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn) in 2017. Megan was promoted to Deputy Inspector in 2018. In the fall of 2020, Megan was assigned to Midtown Precinct North and promoted to Inspector shortly thereafter.
Megan has served as President of the NYPD’s Emerald Society since the fall of 2020 and has chaired the organization’s High School Scholarship program for the past decade. She has also served as a representative for the Captains Endowment Association, the executive union.
She is a proud graduate of Saint Saviour High School in Park Slope, Brooklyn and graduated from St. John’s University, Jamaica with a Bachelor of Arts as an English major with a History minor. Megan earned a Master of Public Administration from Marist College, Poughkeepsie and was a recipient of the Police Reserve Association’s Chief Markman Scholarship.
Megan was born and raised in Brooklyn, where her parents continue to reside as members of St. Columba parish. Megan, her husband, and their children are currently parishioners of the Church of St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor.
Father Brian Dowd
Father Mychal Judge O.F.M. Memorial Award
Very Rev. Brian P Dowd, Pastor of Queen of Angels in Sunnyside since 2009, was born in Brooklyn and raised in Glendale, Queens. Fr. Dowd’s family immigrated from Sligo and Mayo, Ireland at the turn of the 20th century and settled in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Fr. Dowd attended St. Pancras School, Cathedral Prep Elmhurst, Cathedral College, and Immaculate Conception Seminary Huntington. He was ordained by Bishop Thomas V Daily on June 1, 1991. Fr. Dowd was assistant at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, South Ozone Park 1991-1996 and St. Edmund Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn 1996-2000. He was appointed pastor of St. John Vianney Flushing in 2000. From 1994-1999 Fr. Dowd was Master of Ceremonies to Bishop Gerald Barbarito. He received the "Sunnysider of the Year" award in 2011 from the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce. Fr. Dowd was the coordinator of the Irish Apostolate from 2014 to 2018. He is the Dean of Deanery Queens 2.
Brendan Leavy
Thomas Cuite Memorial Award
Brendan Leavy is a native New York City resident. Born in Beth Israel Hospital, on the Lower East Side, and raised in Astoria, Brendan migrated east to Bayside, Queens, where he has lived for the last 17 years. Brendan, a self-described “Queens Lifer”, is happily married to his wife, Milena, for 28 years. They have three beautiful daughters, Emma 21, a recent graduate of SUNY, Oswego as a film & mass communications major, and his identical twin 18 year old daughters, Megan & Julianne, who are entering college in the fall. Brendan loves spending time with his family, and he also enjoys watching his beloved Yankees-don’t be a hater 😊 Brendan loves the diversity in Queens, and the amazing variety of ethnic restaurants throughout the borough, which help make Queens a special place to live work and play.
For the last five years, Brendan has run business development at the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest, largest, business advocacy and networking organization in Queens, NYC. Working closely with their President & CEO, Thomas J. Grech, he has helped grow membership significantly in his tenure there. In his role at the chamber, Brendan regularly connects businesses, large and small, with important resources, and he also directs them to opportunities to help them grow their businesses and operate more efficiently. Brendan often acts an ambassador for the Queens Chamber, and he presides over ribbon cuttings for new businesses, while advocating for businesses in Queens, on a wide variety of issues to help businesses navigate the cities’ myriad of regulatory agencies. Brendan has often said ,“The Queens Chamber is here to help make doing business in Queens, and NYC easier for small businesses-that’s one of our primary functions” It’s the most fun job he has ever had.
Prior to his tenure at the Queens Chamber, Brendan spent most of his career as an insurance professional. He began his career with Allstate Insurance spending 17 years as an agent, protecting his customers’ homes, autos and lives, winning national sales awards at the company. Brendan always went above and beyond for his clients, and learned the importance of building and maintaining relationships built on trust. After selling his agency in 2006, he worked in the commercial insurance & risk management industry for many years, advising businesses, including many nonprofits and religious institutions on proper risk management and safety protocols. Brendan clients included iconic Baptist and Lutheran churches and well regarded nonprofits throughout the NYC Metropolitan area. Brendan won an award from the Queens Federation of Churches, for his service helping religious institutions designing safety plans to protect their missions and safeguarding the children in their care.
Brendan is a long time member of American Martyrs Parish in Bayside, where he volunteered as a volleyball coach for the CYO league. He later joined the Knights of Columbus to help support his local church community. In his free time, Brendan is lead singer in a band known as “Damaged Goods” who can be seen playing in clubs throughout Queens and on Long Island.
He is a proud Irish American, with grand parents on both sides emigrating to New York from Ireland. His Irish ancestors hail from Limerick, Kerry, and Westmeath. He maintains ties with them. His family often get together in Queens and on Long Island, for a “Caeli” to celebrate their Irish heritage singing Irish songs, to keep the Irish heritage alive and well in his family!
Frank DeRosa
Bishop Joseph Sullivan Award
The recipient of the Bishop Joseph Sullivan Memorial Award, Frank DeRosa, worked in communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn for more than 50 years, retiring in 2008.
As director of the diocesan Public Information Office, he served as media spokesman for Bishops Francis J. Mugavero, Thomas V. Daily and Nicholas DiMarzio, and he also held the post of Associate Publisher of The Tablet for the latter two Ordinaries.
Significant highlights of his service to the Diocese included directing the communications efforts for the pastoral visits of Pope John Paul II to Shea Stadium in 1979 and Aqueduct Race Track in 1995 and of Pope Benedict XVI to Kennedy Airport in 2008.
The Brooklyn native, originally from St. Bernadette’s parish in Dyker Heights, is a graduate of St. Peter’s College (now University) in Jersey City. After U.S. Army service in West Germany, he joined the editorial staff of The Tablet in 1958, leaving there as assistant editor in 1970 to become a member of the Public Information Office that Bishop Mugavero had just established.
At various times DeRosa was called on to serve the Church as a member of the Communications Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Public Policy Committee of the New York State Conference of Catholic Bishops. He also chaired the Tri-State Catholic Committee on Radio and Television, and for almost 20 years, he moderated the Catholic segment of Point of View, a religious public affairs program on WWOR-TV.
In 2002, he and Catholic Charities executive director Thomas DeStefano received papal honors from Pope John Paul. They were named Gentlemen of His Holiness.
DeRosa, who has taught communications at St. Peter’s College and St. John’s University, received the St. Francis de Sales Award in 2008 and an honorary doctorate in humane letters from St. Francis College in Brooklyn in 2015. He is a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre.
His late wife, Liliane, was a nurse for the retired School Sisters of Notre Dame in Wilton, Conn. Their five children made them grandparents of 17. There are also twin great-granddaughters.
DeRosa lives in Our Lady of Fatima parish in Wilton, where he is a Trustee.