2011 Grand Marshal George King

George was born in West Hudson Hospital and is a lifelong Kearny resident.  George's grandparents were born in Counties Down and Cavan in Ireland and in Glasgow and Paisley, Scotland; all of George's grandparents immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island. 

Mr. King was educated in the Kearny Public School system attending Roosevelt School and Lincoln School and graduating from Kearny High School.  After graduating KHS, George earned a Bachelor's Degree from Rutgers University.

In 1985, George was appointed to the Kearny Police Department and has worked his way through the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain.  In 2004, George was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police.  As Deputy Chief, George supervises the Patrol Division, the S. Kearny 2nd Police Precinct, the Traffic Bureau, the Community Policing Division, the Police Sub-Station and the Tactical Services Unit.  During George's law enforcement career, he has been decorated and issued several citations.  Most notably, George has been awarded a Combat Cross and a Life-Saving Medal.  In 1988, the Kearny PBA recognized Mr. King as Policeman of the Year.  He has also been awarded a Valor Medal from the American Legion and the NJ State Knights of Columbus Shield Award. 

For many years George has been a member of the St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band, of Kearny.  Geore is a piper in the band and competes with the grade 3 pipe band at highland games and feisanna on the East Coast and Canada.  George is an instructor for the Columcille School of Piping and Drumming.  In addition, George serves as the band's Treasurer, as well as other band committees.  Two of George's sons are members of the band; William- a student of the snare drum, and George- a bass drummer and student of the snare drum.   Among the events and charities that George has supported, as a member of St. Columcille, are the Make a Wish Foundation, Autism Awareness, and The Joseph Nugent Association.

George is also a member of the NJ United Pipe Band, a group of bagpipers representing law enforcement and fire-fighters in NJ.  The NJ United Pipe Band regularly performs at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Ocean Grove, the annual Blue Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, in Newark, and at many funerals and services around the state of NJ. 

In February 2010 George was invited to Seton Hall University as a guest lecturer on the topic of Irish Americans in Law Enforcement.  George was among a number of lecturers who participated in a multi-part lecture series as part of the Irish Studies program. 

In April 2010 George was elected to the Kearny Board of Education. 

George is active in many community organizations.  George supports the NJ Special Olympics in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Plane Pull at Newark Airport, where teams compete to pull a Boeing 737 weighing over 93,000 pounds.  In 2008 George assisted a group of Kearny High School students form an Ice Hockey Club. The group has grown to compete as  Junior Varsity team.

George has been married to his wife Ruthann (Policastro) for 20 years and has 3 sons: George III, Sean, and William, all students at Kearny public schools.  Of his selection as a parade Honoree, George said: "I am very proud and honored to have been chosen as the Grand Marshal of the West Hudson Parade for 2011 and look forward to this great opportunity." 

 

Deputy Grand Marshal Patricia Gerris

Patti, the daughter of Tom and Betty Gerris, has devoted decades to teaching the youth of Harrison and Hudson County. 

 In 1978 Patti earned a Bachelor's Degree in Handicapped Education, at the Jersey City State College (now the New Jersey City University). Shortly thereafter, Patti began her work as a teacher at the A. Harry Moore School, Jersey City, where she served as a classroom teacher for the emotionally disturbed and deaf.  In 1982, Ms. Gerris began working for the Harrison school system as a Special Needs Teacher. In 1990 she earned her Master of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling.   In 1993 she began her work as a Middle School Guidance Counselor.   

Ms. Gerris has a long association with Camp Fatima, which for the past 40 years has provided a free summer camp for handicapped children.  She serves on the Camp Fatima Board of Directors for Summer Camps and was inducted into the Camp Fatima Hall of Fame in 2008. Patti is the Secretary for the Harrison Lions Club, where she also serves on the scholarship committee, the White Cane Fundraising committe and the Pride of Pride commitee.  She is a member of the Harrison/East Newark Municipal Alliance and the Governor's Council on Alcohol Prevention, where she was awarded Volunteer of the Year.

Patti has been recognized many times over the years for her contributions to the community.  In 1989 she was awarded a Humanitarian Award from Knights of Columbus Council #402, Harrison.  In 2000 Patti was recognized with a Humanitarian Award from the Hudson County Brain Injured Association and recognized by the Jersey Journal when she was awarded the Everyday Hero-Betty Foley Memorial Award.  In March 2010, she was recognized, by the Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, as a Woman of Achievement.  Patti follows her brother Bob Gerris as an honoree of the parade.  Patti's brother Bob was Deputy Grand Marshal of the 2007 parade.

 

 Deputy Grand Marshal Betty O’Neill Regan