Valley Community Association-St. Patrick's Day Parade

Mary Ellen Kearns Sumbrum

Grand Marshall of 2012 "Old Neighborhood" St. Patrick's Day Parade

Mary Ellen will lead the parade, which is scheduled for noon on Saturday, March 17 through the historic streets of the Valley and Old First Ward neighborhoods.

Mary Ellen Kearns Sumbrum was born on Harvey Place in the Valley to Dorothy Buckley Kearns and Charles “Spot” Kearns, a Buffalo Policeman. She attended St. Stephens School until seventh grade when the family of nine – her parents and seven siblings – moved to Choate Street in South Buffalo to be closer to Charles’ job at old Precinct #15 on South Park Avenue.

Mary Ellen finished grade school at Holy Family and graduated from South Park High School. She met her husband, Joseph Sumbrum, while hanging out with friends at the Coffee Pot at the City line.

Once married, they moved back to the projects on Hayward Street and had eight children. They belonged to St. Bridgid’s, where Mary Ellen did volunteer work. Needing more space for their expanding brood, they moved to Alabama Street in an upper flat and soon after bought the house across the street at 110 Alabama, where they lived for 35 years with their 10 children.

As a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mary Ellen immersed herself in volunteer activities, serving on the parish council and parent teacher association. She was an organizer of the famous “Hot Dog Days” at Pets. She also found room in her home to host a weekly Cub Scout pack for the boys and a Brownie troop for the girls.

With her boys involved in Gene McCarthy football, she was a team mom helping organize sports banquets and picture days. When the boys outgrew the weight for the McCarthy teams, they joined the TYRO league in South Buffalo. Mary Ellen and her husband, Joe, were active in the concession stands and helped organize the first “Caz Carnival” to raise funds for South Buffalo Football.

Mary Ellen managed to be involved in her 10 children’s lives and actively supported her community, all while holding down a full-time position with Erie County until her 1994 retirement.

Her grandson, Mike Long, a Buffalo Policeman, now owns the old family home. Mary Ellen resides at Victory Ridge. She is the proud mother of Mary Jo (deceased) and Nancy, Barb, Bart, Mark, Joe, Bob, Jim, Kathy and Nora. Mary Ellen is also very proud of her Irish heritage and her roots in the great old neighborhoods, which is why we’re delighted to have her as this year’s Grand Marshall.

Also, the parade is dedicated to two special individuals -- the late Bill Slattery and the late Michael Parker.

Bill Slattery was a former board chairman and later the bus driver for the senior citizens. Bill was part of the early years of the development of the Valley Community Association in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Bill was a lifelong Valley resident and parishioner at St. Stephen’s Parish. Bill is survived by his wife, Joan, a very active volunteer at VCA, and their two sons, Joe and Jim.

Michael Parker who succumbed to a chronic illness at the age of 38 was a volunteer for ALL the events at VCA. He was at the center every day helping wherever he was needed. Mike was a smiling face at Buffalo River Fest, St. Patrick’s Day Parade and was eager to take on any task. Mike was also a kind neighbor volunteering to help many of the seniors who lived near him on O’Connell Avenue.

We lost a lot of great folks this past year and would also like to remember them: Paul Higgins, Mike Zawistowski, Chris Zabawa, Nina Jacobsen, E. J. McGuire, Maize McGuire Simonick, Gene McCarthy, Bill Leonard, Father Robert Mack, Jennie Caruso, Carol Hehir, Rita Bauer, Helen Wilkins, Mary Levine, Robert Tanyi Sr., Robert Tanyi Jr., Richard Szczygiel, Mark Villagomez, Joe Nigrelli, Susan Hughes, Bill Rieman Jr., Richard Cotter, Terry Kuwik, Betty Commerford, Peter Bedard, Jim Hoffstetter, Margie Griffin, Sharon Hennigan, Pietrina Arroyo, David Zoizack, Dave Trala, Joanne Kurzanski, Christy McKenna and any others who we may have overlooked.

About the Parade

The 18^th Annual “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicked off at 12 Noon and winded through the streets of the historic Buffalo River Community including South Park Avenue, Smith Street, Elk Street, Hamburg Street, and O’Connell Avenue.

Over 100 marching units participated this year, making the “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade one of the largest parades in Western New York!! Marching contingents included marching bands, clowns, community floats, social clubs, classic cars, Irish dancers, family clans, sports groups, fire and police departments, and much more!!

Viewing of the parade was available along South Park Avenue (between Hamburg Street and Smith Street), Smith Street (between South Park Avenue and Elk Street), Elk Street (between Smith Street and South Park Avenue), Hamburg Street (between South Park Avenue and O’Connell Avenue), and O’Connell Avenue (between Hamburg Street and Louisiana Street).

Immediately following the parade was the traditional grand Irish “Hooley” featured live music by “Poor Ould Goat” and entertainment as well as plenty of food and drink. The Clann Na Cara Irish Dancers also performed.

"Old Neighborhood"

St. Patrick's Day Parade...

How It All Began:

Peg Overdorf founded the Old Neighborhood St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1994, a celebration that not only has become a central event in the neighborhood, but also has become the second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Western New York.

The parade retraces the original 1913 parade route and focuses on fun, in an entertaining way, the tradition and nostalgia associated with the area. Irish immigrants marched around the Valley and the Ward, the first neighborhoods they settled in Buffalo, in celebration of their heritage and patron saint St. Patrick. Eventually the parade was moved to Main Street and then to Delaware Avenue, its current location.

Ms. Overdorf saw an opportunity to reconnect the neighborhood with its Irish roots by re-instituting the parade. "I grew up in a household where my parents put a lot of emphasis on our Irish heritage. It was always a huge part of our lives. St. Patrick's Day was special! It brought everyone in the family, and everyone in the neighborhood, together. That's what I wanted to recreate with the parade."

The parade started out small, with a little more than twenty marching units participating. Now the parade boasts more than fifty marching units, just about half as many as the downtown parade. The marching contingents represent a broad spectrum of participants including Irish step-dancers, floats, family marching units, marching bands, and local sports mascots. The jobs that the Irish have traditionally held, such as policemen, firemen, and politicians, are well represented in the parade. The Police Emerald Society leads things off, a traditional position that they held in the original parade, with the Fire Emerald Society leading off the second division.

Unions, which have always been an important part of Irish heritage, are also represented, most poignantly by the Scoopers Local 109. "The Scoopers" were the guys hauling the grain out of the boats that came in on the Buffalo River. "They made Buffalo the grain-milling capital of the world," remarked Overdorf.

Perhaps the most striking difference between the two parades though, is the sense of community that the parade promotes. The togetherness reaches not only into the surrounding area, but the entire Western New York region.

What Makes The Parade So Special?

People come from all over for the parade, calling weeks in advance to get information, remarked Overdorf. So what's the appeal?? The downtown parade is just like any other parade, but with an Irish theme. Our parade is more personal. People can identify and connect more. They can imagine what it was like at the turn of the century, their ancestors marching down the same streets, celebrating in the same way. The Old Neighborhood Parade has even come to be known as the "Other Parade."

The Old Neighborhood Parade is special in many ways. For one, Irish flags, embroidered with family names and clans, adorn the parade route. Accounts of the original parade describe the parade route as being spectacularly decorated.

"We wanted to incorporate as much of the original parade as possible. It's an awesome sight when the sun is shining, and the flags are blowing in the wind, it transforms the neighborhood," stated Overdorf.

The Grand Marshal also plays a huge role in the parade. The Grand Marshal is selected by the Parade Committee, a group of neighborhood residents and business owners who plan and assist with parade preparations. The nominee must meet certain requirements such as being from Irish descent and their contributions to the community.

We view the Grand Marshal as somewhat of a lifetime achievement award, someone who has quietly, but directly, influenced, helped, and devoted their life to the Old Neighborhood. Our Grand Marshals have been instrumental in preserving the neighborhood that they love so much, expressed Ms. Overdorf.

In 2011, the 18^th anniversary of the parade, Ms. Overdorf saw more participants than ever and, as always, a unique celebration of Western New York's Irish heritage. Reflecting on the parade, Ms. Overdorf said "I just keep thinking back to my mother and father and the importance they placed on our Irish heritage. They would be happy with the parade back in the Old Neighborhood, a real community celebration that everyone can enjoy."

Grand Marshal List by Year:

2012 Mary Ellen Kearns Sumbrum

2011 George David O'Donnell III

2010 Margaret "Peggy" Szczygiel

2009 John Scanlon

2008 Gene McCarthy

2007 Charlotte McGuire Misuraca

2006                Bertha "Bert" Hyde
2005                Virginia “Ginny” Decker
2004                Elizabeth “Bootsie” Yuskiw
2003                Mike “Ozzie” Overdorf
2002                Mike Fitzpatrick
2001                Doris Bouquard
2000                Bill Leonard
1999                Jack & Betty McGuire
1998                Dan Higgins
1997                Don “Bughead” Smith
1996                Geraldine Butler
1995                Joe Boulanger
1994                Jim “Boss” Marren