Unveiling Glen Cove parade’s grand marshal

Every year a grand marshal is chosen for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Glen Cove. This year Gerard “Gerry” Herbert, a Glen Cove resident and member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, was chosen. 

Herbert, 55, said he supposed to be the grand marshal for the 2020 parade, however, because of the coronavirus pandemic it was cancelled. He said he’s excited to be a part of the parade this year. “I am looking forward to it for sure,” he said. 

Andy Stafford, a friend of Herbert for over 20 years, said he was happy that his friend can finally be the grand marshal. 

“This honor is something that he definitely deserves for sure,” Stafford said. “We didn’t have a parade the last couple of years, so he’s overdue.” 

Herbert, the youngest out of five siblings, was born and raised in County Galway, Ireland. After attending the national fishing training center in County Donegal, Ireland, Herbert worked as a commercial fisherman. 

He met his wife Susan, from Ballinfad, Galway in 1986. Because of the high unemployment rate in his native country, he and his wife moved to the United States in 1988. 

The couple first settled in San Francisco where Herbert worked in construction, and then moved to Sea Cliff. The couple have three children, Stephanie, Keith, and Noeleen, who were raised in Glen Cove. 

After moving to the North Shore, Herbert worked for the Glengarriff Rehab and Healthcare Center in Glen Cove. From there, he began to learn about heat and air conditioning services and after a few years started his own HVAC business — Twelve Pins Mechanical, in 2000. The company is named after the Twelve Pins, also called the Twelve Bens, a mountain range in County Galway, Ireland. 

Along with his business, Herbert said he enjoys the comradery of the Hibernians. He has been a member since 1992. Through the group, he has been able to take part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, local fundraising events, monthly meetings, and attending different parades across the county. “We are usually there when someone’s chips are done,” Herbert said.  

According to Stafford, who is a member of the Hibernians and treasurer of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a grand marshal is nominated by the Hibernians. The candidate does not have to be Irish, a Hibernian, a member of the committee, or from Glen Cove. “Generally, it’s someone who has done something or continues to do something in regard to their community service,” Stafford explained. 

The grand marshal is also meant to be someone who will help raise funds for the parade, since the parade committee does not rely on municipal funding. The excess funding goes to a charity. 

“We’ve allowed the grand marshal to pick their own charity as to where they want the profits of the parade to go,” Stafford said. 

Herbert’s has chosen the St. Patrick Glen Cove Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Stafford noted that Herbert has always been a great Hibernian member and friend. He has been involved in the St. Patrick’s Day parade for years and helped carry the massive balloons for the parade. He also participates in all of the backstage work for events.

“Gerry is the type to do a lot of work behind the scenes,” Stafford said. “He is not one of these guys that wants to be upfront and get his photograph taken. He’s been working tirelessly on the parade for years.”

It’s because of Herbert’s active participation in the community in the Hibernians and the parade, Stafford said, that he was chosen as grand marshal. 

Alongside the grand marshal are aides, who are chosen amongst the ranks of the Hibernians. 

This year, Carolyn Masterson McGillicuddy, a teacher in Baldwin, and Eric Hill, a Glen Cove resident were chosen as aides to Herbert.