Bob Conroy

The 2010 St. Patrick's Parade Grand Marshal is Patrick Robert Conroy, known as “Bob,” a retired Pittsburgh Police sergeant who after his police work became a long-time employee at Mellon Arena.  The son of Irish immigrants Agnes Brigid Joyce and Thomas Conroy, Bob has been a member of Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 9 for the past 65 years, and he is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Emerald Society, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

As a Pittsburgh Police officer for 38 years, Bob has many memories, but a couple of his favorite experiences were two of the city's greatest sports moments.  While serving a security detail at Forbes Field in 1960, he was on the baseball field to welcome Bill Mazeroski to home plate after the World Series' winning home run.  In 1975, he was a guest of the Rooney family, along with his best friend Joey Diven, to accompany the Pittsburgh Steelers to their first Super Bowl in New Orleans .

During World War II, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he saw active duty in Italy , Africa, France and Germany .  He was captured in 1944 and was held as a Prisoner of War for nine months in a German prison camp.  With the Allied victory, he was presented with medals that included the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star.

Bob married Mary Louise Joyce in 1946.  The two settled in Oakland .  As members of St. Regis Parish, the couple raised a family of four: Patricia, Thomas, Eileen and Mary Lou.  Bobby continues to serve the parish as an altar server.

A life of joy has also been mixed with tragedy, as Bob endured the loss of his beloved wife Mary in 1993 due to cancer.  On Valentine's Day in 1995, Bob's daughter Patricia Ann Conroy died along with two fellow Pittsburgh firefighters while battling a house fire in the city's Brushton neighborhood. 

Today, he spends his time with his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends, and continues to support his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and Penguins.

Miss Smiling Irish Eyes Queen for 2010
Meghan Schiller

Members of the Miss Smiling Irish Eyes 2010 Court are Caitlin O'Connor and Megan Willison.

DOROTHY FLAHERTY WELDON

National President - Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. 2006-2008

Daughter of Martin J. Flaherty, County Galway, Ireland and Mary McElligott Flaherty, County Kerry, Ireland

• Graduate of St. Basil High School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• B.S.N. Degree from Carlow University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Professional Certificate in Public School Nursing from California University, California, Pennsylvania.

Employment:

• Head Nurse - Out-Patient Department, Pittsburgh Hospital.

• Screening Nurse Coordinator of Eye and Ear Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.

• School Nurse for Several Districts.

• Bookkeeper for Mon Valley Anesthesia Associates, Mon Valley Hospital.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Chapter Chairwoman of the American Red Cross.

• Instructor - updates for the Health History Nurses of the Red Cross.

• Sponsored a two day Disaster Certification Course.

• Organized the First Red Cross Blood Drive at Transfiguration Parish, Monongahela, Pa. and Chaired successful Blood Drives at that site for 20 years.

• President and Secretary of the Transfiguration Parish Council.

• President of the Mon Valley Nurses Association - 2001-2008.

• President of the Ladies of Charity, St. Anthony/Transfiguration Parishes.

• Imm. Past President of the Sisters of St. Joseph Auxiliary Board. Baden. PA.

• Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Hospital Eucharistic Minister and CCD Teacher.

Awards:

• Received the Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Leadership in Nursing.

• Received the Anna Malia Ruddy Award - Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc., Pennsylvania's most Prestigious Award - 2001.

• Manifesting the Kingdom Award - Nominated by Transfiguration Parish and presented by Bishop Donald Wuerl, former Bishop of Pittsburgh, at St. Paul's Cathedral January 2, 2003.

• “Irish Man of the Year Award” presented by the Mon Valley AOH to the First Woman.

Offices - Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc:

• Charter Member and Current President and served as President Numerous Years of the Mary Ellen O'Neill, Division #4 Mon Valley, PA. as well as Vice-President, Secretary,

Treasury and Publicity editing the Local LAOH Newsletter shared with the Mon Valley AOH #1 for 20 years.

• State of Pennsylvania Office of Catholic Action, Missions and Charities, Irish Historian, State Treasurer, State Secretary, State Vice-President and State President of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, LAOH, Inc.

• National Office of Catholic Action, National Irish Historian, National Treasurer, National Secretary and National President of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc.

• Co-Coordinator of the AOH/LAOH National Convention, Philadelphia, Pa. 2002-2004.

Accomplishments in the Office of National President Laoh, Inc.

• Developed a National Directory for the National Board as National Secretary and kept it updated in the current term of Office of National President.

• Develop and update a Database for the US Bank Credit Card to enable royalties to defray the LAOH financial responsibility of the allotted pages in the Hibernian Digest.

• Obtained First Time Liability Insurance and had a Policy Bound with coverage to provide financial protection for the National Board in the event they are sued in conjunction with the performance of their duties as they relate to the LAOH, Inc. It is also retroactive.

• Assisted in the revision and printing of the current LAOH Membership Application.

• Planned the Ritual Revision Weekend in Pittsburgh, PA. that culminated in the current Notebook containing the Ritual and Constitution.

• Signed a contractual agreement with Robert K. O'Neill, Ph.D. Burns Librarian of John J. Burns Library, Boston College Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts on October 16, 2006 that Boston College will accept all the LAOH, Inc. archival materials and the Library will be the Home of the LAOH, Inc. Donations. Eventually the composition of the transfer of documents will be linked to the LAOH, Inc. website.

• Obtained the 501 c3 Tax Status - March 6, 2007 from the Internal Revenue Service for The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. Under this Code, the LAOH is exempt from taxes to the Organization and contributions will be deductible to the Donor. The LAOH, Inc. is qualified to receive tax deductible bequests or Gifts.

• Edited and Produced the National LAOH, Inc. Newspaper for 4 years.

• Developed a National LAOH, Inc. Handbook for the Board members.

• Chaired the First Ladies Ancient Order of HIbernians, Inc. Saint Brigid of Ireland Humanitarian Award with the Past National Presidents comprising the Committee.

• Family - Wife of Dr. John F. Weldon, Retired Chief Anesthesiologist - MV Hosp. Mother of : Dr. John P. Weldon, Dr. Maureen Kamons, Dr. Patrick Weldon, Sean Weldon (in Medical School) Grandmother of : 8 boys, 2 girls.