LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Martin Cottingham upon the occasion of
being named Grand Marshal of the 2009 Queens County St. Patrick's Day
Parade

WHEREAS, Saint Patrick's Day is a time for people of all nationalities
and generations to assemble and celebrate the rich culture and heritage
of the Irish people throughout these United States; and
WHEREAS, A Saint Patrick's Day parade reflects and records the ongoing
history of the United States and Ireland, and highlights the many
contributions and historical accomplishments of the Irish community in
this diverse land; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Martin
Cottingham upon the occasion of being named Grand Marshal of the 2009
Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade; and
WHEREAS, Martin Cottingham is currently a Managing Director at Grubb &
Ellis in the Corporate Services Group, which offers clients with multi-
market real estate interests a full array of planning, financial analy-
sis and portfolio management services; and
WHEREAS, Prior to this, Martin Cottingham was a Managing Director at
Bear Stearns & Co., where he was responsible for all global facility
management, property management, design, development and construction;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, Martin Cottingham was responsible for all site
activities in the development of Bear Stearns' World Headquarters at 383
Madison Avenue and was appointed to the New York State Real Estate
Board; and
WHEREAS, A Vice President of the Emerald Association of Long Island,
Martin Cottingham is a Board Member of the Construction & Real Estate
Services Committee for Enterprise Ireland, an organization charged with
promoting the growth of Irish companies and business in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong parishioner of Holy Name Church, Martin Cottingham
is a founding member of the Holy Name Foundation, organized to address
Catholic school issues in Brooklyn and Queens; he also sits on the Board
for Bishop Ford High School, LaSalle Academy and the YMCA; and
WHEREAS, Martin Cottingham is a 1988 graduate of LaSalle Academy, and
received a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from
St. Joseph's College and a Master of Science degree in Real Estate
Development from New York University; and
WHEREAS, With Martin Cottingham throughout have been his wife, Kathy,
and their two children, Brendan and Genna, all of whom feel privileged
to be a part of his life and rejoice in his many achievements; and
WHEREAS, St. Patrick's Day is not, as many believe, a celebration of
the Patron Saint of Ireland's birth but of his death; and
WHEREAS, It was Pope Celestine I who named him Patricus, and sent him
to Ireland where he tangled with the Druids over religious beliefs, and
where his efforts to convert the Irish to the Catholic faith were untir-
ing, as seen today in the significant observance of God in Irish life;
and
WHEREAS, In every walk of life, in the arts, in the sciences, in the
political world, in every manifestation of the human spirit, the Irish
people have excelled; and
WHEREAS, No nation on earth has sent to the shores of America a people
more spiritual than the Irish; throughout the ages, they have left their
cares forgotten among the lilies; from the mode and texture of that
endowment, the cathedrals and colleges of our nation were built, a
heritage largely formed, our American character greatly forged; and

WHEREAS, Each year as we honor St. Patrick, whose life mirrored a deep
and abiding example of the challenges of sainthood, we are mindful of
the history of the Irish people and their struggle against oppression,
religious intolerance and political, social and economic barriers; and
WHEREAS, The St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrates the spirit, purity
and strength of the Irish Culture and its fine traditions; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for Martin Cottingham and to wish him
continued success in all of his future endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Martin Cottingham upon the occasion of being named Grand Marshal
of the 2009 Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Martin Cottingham.