Meet the 19th RVC St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal

The 19th Annual Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade begins at 12 p.m. on March 21, starting from parking field 12 onto North Long Beach Road and proceeding to the reviewing stand in front of St. Agnes Cathedral.

“What better way to come together as a community then a parade,” commented Mayor Francis X. Murray. “It’s one of the most exciting days here in Rockville Centre. The downtown shops are booming, the streets are full of Rockville Centre pride and we are able to give back to three worthy causes.”

This year’s Grand Marshal is Rockville Centre native Bob Williams. Bob has spent his life serving others with his unwavering dedication, commitment and willingness to get involved in this great community. Bob comes from a tradition of service to the Village, as his father was Deputy Mayor of Rockville Centre. Following law school, Bob served in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. He began his legal career as an attorney with the Town of Hempstead and then opened a law practice in Rockville Centre in 1986, 28 years ago, which he still maintains today. In addition to his local law practice, Bob served as a Rockville Centre Village Justice for 16 years, from 1991 to 2007, during which time he was elected and served both as President of the Nassau County Magistrates Association and as Chairman of the Real Property Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. He also served as a past President of the Nassau University Medical Center.

Bob exhibits an unwavering commitment to the Village of Rockville Centre through his years of service. He has served as a member of the Mercy Medical Center Board of Trustees, the Friends of Mercy Hospital, and the St. Agnes School Board.

In addition, Bob served as counsel to the Rockville Centre Board of Zoning Appeals and currently serves on the Board of Ethics for both the Village and the Rockville Centre School District. He also found time to coach both Little League and soccer. Mr. Williams was part of the parades initial organization committee and incorporated it as a New York State non-profit corporation in 1997. For many years thereafter he served on the Parade Committee as its legal counsel.

Over the last 19 years, the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade has become one of the most successful and well-attended parades in New York State. It has become a source of not only cultural pride, but civic pride, as well. The parade is an incorporated not-for-profit organization that annually shares its success with three worthy charities, which are National, Irish, and Rockville Centre focused. In the past 18 years, their tireless efforts to raise funds have supported and donated more than $878,000 to 55 charities. The parade that “shares and cares” will benefit three worthy charities this year: the Katie McBride Foundation, the Hance Family Foundation, and Dublin Children’s Pilgrimage.

Submitted by Village of Rockville Centre|Photo credit: RVC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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