Gibbons Chairman and Managing Director Patrick Dunican Leads the 78th Annual Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Patrick C. Dunican Jr., Chairman and Managing Director of Gibbons P.C., served as the Grand Marshal of the 78^th annual Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 15, 2013.

As Grand Marshal, Mr. Dunican led a full-day celebration, beginning with an Investiture Mass at St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral, where he was invested with the office of Grand Marshal, along with Deputy Grand Marshal, Eileen P. Gilleece, Detective Sergeant First Class (DSFC) with the New Jersey State Police. A meet-and-greet with Newark Mayor Cory Booker also took place prior to the start of the Mass, and Mayor Booker set the tone for the day with a gracious speech about the influence of the Irish American community on the City of Newark.

After Mass, parade committee members and special guests of the Grand Marshal were invited to an Irish brunch at the Gibbons office. There, Mr. Dunican was presented with a mini “Sam Maguire Cup” (a replica of the trophies won by All-Ireland Senior Football Champions) from Cllr. Dessie Larkin, Mayor of Letterkenny Town Council, Co. Donegal. Representatives from the parade’s beneficiary charities were in attendance at the brunch to receive their donations. Historically, the parade donates to area charities, but this year, more money went to more organizations than ever before, including The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children; Christ the King Preparatory School; Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark; NJ LEEP; St. Benedict’s Preparatory School; Newark Museum; St. Philip’s Academy; St. Vincent Academy; New Community Corporation; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Newark Now; St. John’s Soup Kitchen; National Guard State Family Readiness Council; The Newark Public Library; and St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral.

After brunch, the Grandstand Ceremony began with the American and Irish national anthems and dedications to the Grand Marshal and Deputy Grand Marshal. The parade stepped off from the Prudential Center and ended at Washington Park. Marching along with Mr. Dunican was an impressive group of business and civic leaders from Newark and throughout the state. In addition, this year’s parade featured the first-ever marching band competition thanks to The Star-Ledger. Ten high school marching bands competed in the U.S. Marching Band Competition.

The day concluded with a celebration at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, where guests were treated to an Irish buffet and entertainment by Celtic Cross, a pop/folk Irish-American band. All Gibbons employees and their families attended this St. Patrick’s Day event, which is an annual tradition at the firm. The firm also presented the First Annual John T. Dolan St. Patrick’s Day Award, which was named after one of the firm’s founders. The award will be presented each year to an employee who exhibits “a tremendous love of the Great Gibbons Law Firm and its extended family; a fun-loving attitude toward the workplace; demonstrated diligent effort on behalf of our clients; a commitment to the compassion shown by Mr. Dolan throughout his career; and a sense of humor as Chuck shared with us each and every day.”

The 2013 recipient was Marie Prada, a longtime secretary of the firm who retired in 2012. In addition, the firm bestowed a posthumous award, presented to his wife and young children, on H. John Schank II, a partner in the firm who passed away in 2010 after a battle with cancer at the age of 51.

“It’s hard to put into words the feeling of immense pride that I had rounding the corner after greeting the Seton Hall Law and St. John’s Food Kitchen representatives and saw the hundreds of Gibbons family members gathered outside of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center,” said Mr. Dunican. “I am especially thankful to those who contributed to making this year’s parade a success.”