Dennis Casey has been selected as the Grand Marshall for the 2022 Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade to be held Saturday, March 12, at 1 pm.
Dennis is a lifelong resident of Hoosick Falls, except for a few years after college. He returned because he missed his hometown and he understood and appreciated the value of living in a small town surrounded by farms, woods and hills. He attended 12 years at St. Mary’s Academy, graduating in 1960 with the last class from the old building.
Dennis, or Casey, as many know him, has contributed to his community in many ways. He worked closely with Armand Rousseau and others to get the ice skating rink up to gold standard. He helped find and secure the used boards so that hockey could be played. Then he served as a youth hockey coach for many years. He and Armand went to the rink late at night to make the ice in layers, spending many cold winter nights for the kids. Finally, he found a used Zamboni and worked with the Town Supervisor to purchase it and pick it up from a rink in Massachusetts. He also arranged for a skate sharpener and skate rentals.
He served as one of the first Fire Dept. Commissioners after the Village fire department became a fire district. As Commissioner, he reorganized the budget so the district could secure a bond for the new firehouse. He shepherded that process and oversaw the building of the firehouse, getting it furnished and setting up protocols for its use.
He served on the Village Zoning Board for a number of years, making an effort to treat everyone with respect regardless of their proposals.
He has supported the Historical Society for many years, both financially and with volunteer time for special projects.
He tended bar every Thursday for many years at Saluzzo’s Grill and was always good for a quick ride home or a beer if you were short on funds but in the middle of a good story.
Dennis has always been proud of his Irish heritage and has been to Ireland multiple times. He always wanted to find out about his ancestors, and using a letter his great-grandfather had sent to his grandfather 100 years ago, he pored over information at the National Archives in Dublin, trying to find the land in County Tipperary they called home. He did finally see where ancestors farmed, and he was overcome with the emotion of that sight. The closest he came to meeting a cousin was when he met Betty Casey, wife of John Ryan, his wife’s cousin. Betty was from that same town so they decided then and there they were related.
Dennis and his wife Margaret O’Connor Casey raised their family in Hoosick Falls. Daughter Eileen married Brian Campbell and son Kevin married Molly O’Reilly, all full of Celtic pride. The Caseys have two grandsons, Rory and Ewan Casey-Campbell.
Dennis lost his youngest brother Sean in March of 2019. Sean was only 57 years old and died unexpectedly of a heart attack while peacefully sleeping. Sean and Dennis would liked to have served as co-Grand Marshalls this year, the spring between their 60th and 80th birthdays, but sadly it wasn’t meant to be. Dennis will certainly be thinking of Sean, a former Town Supervisor, as he rides by the Armory in the parade. Sean was responsible for bringing the Town offices into the Armory originally.
Please join us on Saturday, March 12, at 1 pm, as we honor our 2022 Grand Marshall Dennis Casey. The parade will begin at Wood Park, process to Main St., John St., Church St., Willard St. and back down Main St. to Wood Park.
