Left to Right: Deputy Grand Marshal Maria Lockard, Grand Marshal Frank X. Mulligan Jr, Deputy Grand Marshal Hugh Dalzell

Grand Marshal

Frank X. Mulligan, Jr.

 

Frank X. Mulligan is the current owner/manager of the Mulligan Funeral Home founded in 1946 by his late father Frank X. Mulligan, Sr.  Born in 1946 to the late Florence (nee Herron) Mulligan and his late father, he grew up in Harrison and Kearny.  Starting in Holy Cross School in Harrison, the family moved to Kearny where he graduated from St. Cecilia's grammar school and attended the high school for two years.  Frank graduated from Harrison High School in 1964.

He graduated from Montclair State University in 1968 with a Bachelor's Degree, majoring in Biological Science Education and with minors in Chemistry and Physics.  He obtained a permanent N.J. teaching certificate for all Sciences in grades 7-12.  Teaching in Irvington and working at the funeral home nights, weekends and summers, he attended Montclair State University and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Biological Science Education in 1974.  Frank taught Science in Irvington from 1969 to 1975.

In 1975, an opportunity presented itself to start the first Funeral Service Education Program in the state of N.J.  He left the Irvington school system and was hired by Mercer County Community College as an assistant professor and Founding Funeral Service Coordinator.  In this capacity, he wrote all the course outlines, developed the funeral service program, coordinated courses with other college departments that were incorporated into the curriculum and started an innovative Funeral Service Internship and Field Experienced Embalming program to educate future NJ and PA Funeral Directors. This was one of his proudest accomplishments along with the fact that when he left MCCC in 1986 to manage the family business on a full time basis, an amazing 98% of his graduates had obtained licenses.  Thus, in the first 10 years of this program approximately 250 funeral directors had been educated and Frank left MCCC having been promoted to Associate Professor.

Married in 1970 to Judith (nee Cilo) Mulligan, they had two children, Frank X. Mulligan, III and Michelle E. Mulligan.  Frank is currently a full time licensed funeral director and is employed by an Ocean County funeral home and lives in the shore area. Michelle is currently a full time licensed funeral director employed at Mulligan Funeral Home.  Judy (a teacher who also obtained her funeral director's license) battled cancer for nine years, losing her battle on February 7, 1992.  Currently Frank's married to Marianne (nee Siwek) Mulligan.

Frank is a member of the following organizations: State of NJ Funeral Directors Association (as a Past Trustee, Member of Board of Directors, & Liasion with State Board of Mortuary Science); Essex-Union-West Hudson Funeral Directors Association (Past Trustee, Past President & Chairman of Continuing Education Committee); National & New Jersey Education Association; Planning Board, Town of Harrison from 1995 to the present, Frank has served as Chairman of the Board since 2004.

Frank has served the community as a member of the Holy Cross Church Parish Council;  the Holy Cross Holy Name Society;  the Harrison Lions Club, where he served as Past President and Co-Chair for the Sight Committee; Knights of Columbus Council 402, Knights of Columbus, Msgr. Doane Assembly 4th Degree; Harrison/East Newark Elks Lodge 2326, and as a volunteer with Medical Reserve Corps, Office of Emergency Management, Harrison.

Upon hearing the news he had been selected as Grand Marshal, Mr. Mulligan made the following comments:  "I am proud to have the opportunity to represent the Irish American community in West Hudson.  Being a fourth generation Irish-American, it give me great pride to be able to serve as Grand Marshal.  I am truly honored."
 

Deputy Grand Marshals

Hugh Dalzell

Hugh was born in Ireland in 1915.  His family settled in Kearny after moving the United States.  Mr. Dalzell is retired from General Motors. 

He currently serves as a Trustee for St. Cecilia's Parish in Kearny.  He was also the first President of the St. Cecilia's Parish Council.  He is a member or the Knights of Columbus Council #402 and is a past President of the Essex-Hudson Federation of the Holy Name Society.  In 2004, Mr. Dalzell was awarded the Society's "Lifetime Appreciation Award" and the Cornelius Boyle Award in 1992.  He has also been honored by the Archdiocese of Newark by receiving the Golden Jubilee Award and the Jubilee Medal. 

For Many years Mr. Dalzell was active in the Town of Kearny's Democratic Organization.  He is a charter member of the Norman A.  Doyle Association. 

Mr. Dalzell was married to the late Winifred until her death in 1979.  He has four grown children and five grandchildren.  Mr. Dalzell said of his selection: "I am honored to have been selected as a Deputy Grand Marshal.  This was unexpected and is certainly a very nice surprise.  I'm looking forward to a terrific parade."

Maria Lockard

Maria Lockard is the owner of Reilly’s Irish Pub & Grill in Kearny. She has lived in Kearny since 1961. In addition to running her business, Mrs. Lockard has been very involved with Kearny Recreation Programs for many years. She serves as the Field Coordinator with the Thistle Football Club program in Kearny. Mrs. Lockard and her husband, Pat, have five children. Mrs. Lockard is currently seeking her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. She has been a great help to the Parade Committee for many years by volunteering her time and artistic talent. Mrs. Lockard said “I was completely overwhelmed when I learned that I was chosen as a Deputy Grand Marshal. It is a great honor and something that I’ll never forget”