LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Kathleen Alcock upon the occasion of
being named the Grand Marshal of the 16th Annual Rockville Centre St.
Patrick's Parade on March 24, 2012

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, Rockville Centre's St. Patrick's Parade was established on
March 22, 1997 and remains dedicated to promoting Irish heritage and
culture, family and patriotic values; to promoting and annually finan-
cially supporting a national, an Irish, and a Rockville Centre focused
charity; and to contributing to the good and welfare of the residents
and businesses of Rockville Centre; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Kathleen
Alcock, an amazing woman and ardent supporter of the Rockville Centre
St. Patrick's Parade, noting her tremendous efforts in support of the
Parade, upon the occasion of being named the Grand Marshal of the 16th
Annual Rockville Centre St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 24,
2012; and
WHEREAS, Since the Parade's beginning Kathleen Alcock has been there
lending support and guidance and always asking "what can I do to help";
she is a wonderful ambassador to all that come into Rockville Centre and
her "Little Irish Shop" Kathleen's of Donegal is a warm and friendly
business which contributes significantly to making Rockville Centre's
business community the place to shop on Long Island; and
WHEREAS, As Kathleen's of Donegal is celebrating 25 years in Rockville
Centre, it is fitting that Kathleen Alcock be honored as the first woman
and 16th Grand Marshal of the "Parade that Cares and Shares"; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen Alcock has been a staunch supporter of the Rockville
Centre St. Patrick's Parade since its inception in 1997; her countless
contributions to the success of the Parade, her charitable work, her
family values, her love of life and her tireless dedication to serving
her country, her church and her community reflect the true essence of
the Rockville Centre St. Patrick's Parade which celebrates both our
Irish heritage and our pride in being American; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen Alcock was born in County Donegal, the oldest of
three children; in 1958, at age 19, she set sail to America and an
uncertain future; during the next three years, she lived with her aunt
in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and worked in the hotel industry; in 1961,
she left for New York City and another uncertain future, working for the
next four years in Schrafft's Restaurant in Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, After returning to Ireland just before Christmas in 1965, she
met her husband, Thomas Alcock, by chance on a trip to England to meet
friends; they married in February 1967, and this year celebrated their
45th Anniversary; they are the proud parents of three grown children and
have 12 grandchildren with another one expected in March 2012, just in
time for the step off of this year's Rockville Centre St. Patrick's
Parade; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, Kathleen Alcock decided to follow her
dream and opened her own Irish handcraft and gift shop business as an
extension to her own home in County Donegal, allowing her to run her
home and business at the same time; in the early 1980s, she opened her
second Irish craft shop in Donegal town after which she became involved

in organizing tours and events for various Irish American associations
and produced a visual travelogue of Donegal's history, scenery, and folk
traditions for tourists; and
WHEREAS, While visiting New York in 1986 to promote her completed
video of Donegal, Kathleen Alcock visited Rockville Centre where she
instantly felt a connection to both the town and the people, an immedi-
ate connection which led her to open Kathleen's of Donegal at 10 North
Park Avenue in Rockville Centre in March 1987; Kathleen's of Donegal
will joyfully celebrate its 25th year of being in business in March
2012, again just in time for the step off of the Rockville Centre St.
Patrick's Parade; and
WHEREAS, During Kathleen's of Donegal's long tenure in Rockville
Centre, Kathleen Alcock has proudly presented a hand knit sweater to the
late President Ronald Reagan, Belleek porcelain china to former Presi-
dent Bill Clinton, hand knit sweaters to New York Governors and tradi-
tional Irish walking sticks to the Grand Marshals of both the New York
City and the Rockville Centre St. Patrick's Parades; 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 proud history of the Irish people and their struggle against
oppression, religious intolerance and political, social and economic
barriers; and
WHEREAS, A St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrates the spirit, purity and
strength of the Irish culture and its fine traditions and provides an
opportunity for people of all generations to assemble in ethnic pride
and pageantry; and
WHEREAS, A fitting choice to serve as a Grand Marshal of the 2012
Rockville Centre St. Patrick's Day Parade, Kathleen Alcock embodies the
spirit and the cherished ideals and values of Irish-Americans of this
great State and Nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Kathleen Alcock upon the occasion of being named Grand Marshal of
the 16th Annual Rockville Centre St. Patrick's Parade on March 24, 2012;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Kathleen Alcock.