A Lifetime of Service but Especially to His Family
This year’s Grand Marshal of the Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Bob Creighton, he has held so many prestigious positions throughout his many careers and received so many honors, however he is humbled by being chosen this year in his home town.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be Grand Marshall, it’s a wonderful honor to my Irish friends in Kings Park and my Irish heritage as well,” said the former Suffolk County Police Chief and Smithtown Town Board member.
His wife preceded him by a few years as Grand Marshall, the prestigious honor in the strong Irish community meant a great deal to her as well as she was the daughter of Irish immigrants. Her own mother left her home country and her family as a mere teen to come to Kings Park to work at the psychiatric center. Creighton’s wife Gerry also happens to be on the committee and up to her elbows in last minute details for the March 5th event. Owner of Professor’s Diner “The Professor” Kevin Denis leads the committee. He and Gerry and their parade committee are about to pull off another Herculean effort and the weeks tick down to the big event and so many small details are left to round out.
The Professor leads off the parade in a fine kilt whose distinct fabric was bought by Kevin Johnston and made into the kilt he wears proudly. He even adorned the special garment to his own daughter’s wedding. The Professor was the founder of the Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day parade back in 2011. It was met with great excitement by the community with such strong and long Irish roots.
For the very first time this year the Hibernians both men’s and women’s league will be holding the flags from every county in Ireland. No other parade on Long Island has these flags. They were made available by Denise Creighton, head of alumni at St. Anthony’s High School.
Denis is on fire with energy and excitement about this year’s event. “This year we are selling hats for $10, they will be available to purchase throughout the parade route and they pay for the pipe bands,” said Denis. He added that there are a whopping twenty-four booming Irish pipe bands marching this year. Relatively new to the Irish parade scene on Long Island, Kings Park has rapidly become a well-attended, well marched in event. The whole town comes out and people come from all over.
Kevin Johnson is new to the parade committee but is the public relations man on the job. “Kevin Denis really is the public face of the parade,” he explained. “His work is unpresented, it’s a full year’s of fundraising, planning the Grand Marshal Ball, getting various donations,” continued Johnson.
Johnson is full of praise for Grand Marshal Bob Creighton as well. “He’s done so much for the Kings Park Community, for the town and Suffolk County but at the end of the day this amazing man is a true family man,” he shared.
He added that the committee has met every week for three months in preparation for this year’s parade and there are a lot of people no one see that are working behind the scene. “The parade honors the Irish that has a long history in our small town and it honors Kings Parkers,” Johnson explained. This year there are 101 organizations marching. “I really love that it’s an all-inclusive parade,” ended Johnston.
In addition to Bob Creighton being named Grand Marshall of the Kings Park Parade, it’s been an exciting year for the Creighton family overall. In the fall there was a Grand Marshal Ball honoring Creighton and he was surrounded by his children, beautiful grandchildren and wonderful wife as well as other former honorees, one of which was his wife Gerry.
Michael Cyril Creighton, the son of Saint Anthony’s Alumni Director and teacher, Denise Creighton, has made his Hollywood debut in Spotlight; the most acclaimed film of the year.
Robert C. Creighton, the son of Councilman Bob Creighton, was appointed Managing Partner of Farrell Fritz, Rated Best Lawyers by U.S. News & World Report. However, the Creighton Clan put all other accolades aside, to honor the distinguished life of one of Smithtown’s favorite public servants; their father and grandfather.
Is the Grand Marshall excited? Yes he is, everyone involved hopes the Luck of the Irish wins out and the weather is grand.
This year’s parade is Saturday March 5th and kicks off at noon. There is special seating for seniors who are not riding in cars.
CREIGHTON’S HONORS
- Person of the Year for the Suffolk County Emerald Society
- Person of the Year for Industrial Security
- Man of the Year Cleary School for the Deaf
- Man of the Year for the Police Department City of New York Retired Detective
- Person of the Year for the Girls Scouts of Suffolk County
- Man of the Year for the Steuban Society of Suffolk County Police Department
- Suffolk County Holy Name Society
- COPS FOUNDATION
- Man of the Year for the Suffolk County Police Department Retired Detectives
- Man of the Year Ascent School with Autism
- Lifetime Community Service Award for the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce
- LaSallian Medal for LaSalle Academy
- Aide to the Grand Marshal for the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2013
Former Grand Marshalls Include: Matty O’Reilly, Gerry Creighton, Charles (Buster) Toner, Deacon John Trodden, Margaret Kirby Foley and James Kirby