Michael J. Moran was born in Co. Carlow, Ireland, on March 22,
1930. Mike emigrated to the U.S., settling in Sea Cliff, where
he was employed for many years as a chauffeur for the Village of
Sea Cliff Sanitation Department.
- Mike Moran with members Charlie
Phillips and Jim McCabe, leading the 1990 parade
He was first inducted into Division 8 on March 28, 1957. Mike
went on to become a model of what a true Hibernian is, serving
for six years as Division President, as chairman for Project
Children and of the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day parade and in
many other positions. On the County level, Mike served as
Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Marshall and Co-chair of the
annual Ladies Communion Breakfast.
In recognition of his service to the Order Mike received the
high honour of being named Aide to the Grand Marshal of the New
York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
A special committee had been formed early in 1987 to address
an oft-expressed desire by the membership that Division 8 follow
the tradition set by many other Divisions of naming them selves
after persons of high regard as a tribute to those persons and
an inspiration an example of true Hibernianism to present and
future members.
On April 14, 1997 that Committee submitted its report to the
President, recommending that Division 8 “bear the name of our
beloved Brother Hibernian, Michael J. Moran, and hereafter be
known as the ‘Mike Moran Division, Glen Cove, New York”. The
report went on to say: “This recommendation is made with keen
awareness that the Division has no greater honour to bestow, and
will never again be empowered to extend such an honor – but no
Hibernian has contributed more to the Division than Mike Moran.
His contributions have been countless, selfless and honourable,
always given cheerfully, with unfailing dignity and charm – the
hallmark of a great Irishman.
The Division was slated to vote on the Committee’s
recommendation at its monthly meeting in May. Mike died on April
29, 1997 at the age of 67. He had been advised before his death
that the Division was to be named in his honour. That honour was
bestowed posthumously, and by unanimous acclamation of the
Division members, on May 8, 1997. The new Division banner
bearing Mike’s name was dedicated on December 17, 1997 in a
ceremony held at the Swan Club, in the presence of Mike’s wife,
Mary, and his daughters, Maureen Basdavanos, Theresa Pierce and
Anne Gentile.
The following is an account of Mike’s funeral from the North
Shore Hibernian:
We were all deeply saddened by the death of Brother Mike
Moran on April 29, 1997. Our brothers and their families
followed Mike’s fine example of Friendship, Unity and Christian
Charity by attending the Hibernian wake service and his Funeral
Mass in great numbers, ad did our Hibernian brothers and sisters
from all over Long Island.
Mike was eulogized by County Board President Ed Friel and
Division President Robert Lynch and our Chaplain Msgr. McCann
led the prayer service. The Funeral Mass at Mikes’ parish
church, St. Boniface Martyr, Sea Cliff was concelebrated by
Msgr. McCann and Fr. Michael Torpey, pastor of St. Boniface.
Mike’s coffin, draped in the Irish tricolor, was led into the
church by a lone piper and accompanied by an honor guard of
twenty five of his brother Hibernians. Mike’s best friend,
Charlie Phillips, acted as lead pallbearer.
A moving graveside ceremony was conducted at Locust Valley
Cemetery where the lone piper played a lament over Mike’s grave
while a color guard with the Division’s banner and colours stood
to attention. The honour guard held the outstretched tricolor
over Mike’s coffin in the pouring rain during this final
farewell.
Source:
http://www.glencoveirish.org/2009/07/07/about-mike-moran/
July 7, 2009 by Joe McDonald
