WOODBRIDGE – (L to R) President Ed McSherry, Parade Chair Ben Campbell, Grand Marshal Charles Kenny, Irish Lady of the Year Karen Devlin, Irish Man of the Year Jim Leathem, Miss American Irish Sarah Olexa, Lady in Waiting Victoria Gomez.

Woodbridge American Irish Assn St Patrick’s Parade March 13th

By Ken Gardner

Woodbridge American Irish Assn. Parade Committee

WOODBRIDGE – This year’s honorees & their families have literally risen to the occasion by raising the Irish Flag & supporting the community. As a Middlesex County Commissioner, this year’s Grand Marshal, Charles Kenny, started the County Irish Flag Raising. The program celebrates our Irish heritage & is at the heart of the American Irish Association of Woodbridge – Unite American Irish, promote Irish culture & commemorate every St. Patrick’s Day. Charles is a 3rd generation American Irish. His family has been long time Woodbridge residents with the Walsh family going back to the 1800’s. 

Charles retired after 35 years as the first Career Fire Chief of the Woodbridge Fire Department. His father, Jack Kenny, and brothers John and Patrick have all served as Chief in the volunteer fire Co. His mother, Patricia “Pat” Kehoe Kenny worked the St. James Bingo along with Jack for many years.

Grand Marshal Kenny served as Council President in Woodbridge. While on the town council Charles was involved in many community projects such as the Skateboard Park and the Dog Park. Charles was also involved in starting the Support Our Troops Rally. He previously served as Grand Marshal for the Woodbridge Christmas Parade.

Charles lives in Woodbridge with his wife Darlene and daughters Alyssa and Jessica.  While Charles gets to serve as Grand Marshal, he said, “This is a family designation for the Kenny, Kehoe, Walsh, and Mooney families.”

You will never meet anyone who wants to be Irish & raise the flag more than our Irish Lady of the Year Karen Devlin. Karen grew up thinking that she was German. But fulfilled her lifelong dream of marrying an Irishman (the late Timothy Patrick Devlin).

She serves as a Committeewoman for the Woodbridge Democratic Org. Karen was honored as Officer of the Year by the Woodbridge Elks lodge & coordinated many fundraisers.  In 2018, Karen joined the Carteret Elks Lodge. She is a member of the Mayors Advisory Committee & the Perth Amboy Ancient Order of Hibernians Auxiliary. Karen is our Financial Secretary & Chaired the Parade & Super 50/50 committees where she continues to serve – as well as the Ad Book, Dinner Dance, Half-way to St. Patrick’s Day, Charlie Shaughnessy Park Cleanup, Tooling Around the Town, Coin Collecting for the Veterans, Relay for Life, St. James St. Fair, Bowl for Hunger & Menlo Park Veterans committees. In the Winter of 2021, Karen felt like she became a millionaire when her 23andMe DNA came back disclosing that her dominate ancestry is Irish. Karen loves her dogs & laughing, socializing and spending quality time with Kevin & her friends & family are an important part of her life. 

Jim Leathem, our Irish Man of the Year, resides in Colonia and is a lifelong resident of Woodbridge Township. He continues to raise the Irish flag by living another part of our Association’s Constitution – Initiating service to other organizations furthering the objectives of the community.

Jim is an active member of St. John Vianney Parish as a Eucharistic Minister & counter. He and his wife Lee Ann have assisted at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Perth Amboy for many years. Jim & Lee Ann have been at the food pantry almost every Saturday since March of 2020. Each Saturday more than 150 families receive food. Recently Jim was recognized by the NJ Senate & Assembly for his commitment to fighting food insecurity. Jim established The Adopt-A-Turkey Program thru St. Vincent de Paul. Each year more than 125 families are given food for Thanksgiving at The St. James Food Pantry. 

As a member our Assn. Jim has been active in Tooling Around the Township, The Shaughnessy Park Clean-up & building free handicapped ramps for more than 15 years. In Jim’s leisure time he enjoys camping, reading and spending time with his family. Jim and his wife Lee Ann have been married for 37 years. They have two daughters Jennifer and Michele.

Our Miss American Irish, Sarah Olexa, said her honor wouldn’t have been possible without her Popa K, Sean Keaveney. Sean was born in Galway, Ireland. He is a current Director with the Association (& a Past everything else you can imagine for us). He would educate her on their Irish heritage. 

Sarah is pursuing a major in Psychology and minor in Criminal Justice and Law at Rider University. She is passionate about her aspiration to become a Forensic Psychologist. She received a Community Service Award from Woodbridge. Sarah has participated with Sunshine Summer at St James Church, bingo and picnics at the Veterans Home, Tooling Around Town and the food pantry. She has learned that some kindness and a smile can go a really long way.

Victoria Gomez is our Lady in Waiting. The parade has always been a big family event, with everyone gathering on Main Street. Victoria’s grandparents are Assn members Connie (from County Donegal) and Fran O’Donnell.

Victoria graduated from Colonia High & was inducted into the National Honor Society, National Thespian Honor Society, Quill and Scroll Honor Society, and the National Spanish Honor Society. In addition, she was involved with school choirs & at St. John Vianney church. She was in the Color Guard, so this is not her first Woodbridge parade! She was also involved in Student Council and Interact Club. Victoria was awarded a top honor of having nearly 500 hours of community service. Many hours were spent at Hand in Hand dances for our community’s special adults. Victoria plans to become a special Ed. teacher.

The Woodbridge American Irish Association is a civic organization that meets monthly, feeds the homeless, sponsors the Justin McCarthy Scholarship, maintains the Charlie Shaughnessy Park, visits our Menlo Park Veterans Home, tools around town etc.

Our Parade Chair is Ben Campbell, who in 2021 suggested & led our first ever “Parade of Food” campaign that made donations to local pantries. Ben said, “Our club’s parade committee includes some of the most dedicated and resourceful people and I am so happy to work with this team.”

The parade is funded with ads from local businesses & donations. To participate please go to Amerirish.com. Like us on Facebook at American Irish Association of Woodbridge.

This year’s parade is March 13th at 1:30 pm. It starts at Woodbridge High School & ends at Town Hall. 

WOODBRIDGE – (L to R) President Ed McSherry, Parade Chair Ben Campbell, Grand Marshal Charles Kenny, Irish Lady of the Year Karen Devlin, Irish Man of the Year Jim Leathem, Miss American Irish Sarah Olexa, Lady in Waiting Victoria Gomez.