Born
to marshal a parade of green
By Sister Kathleen Leary, S.S.J.
Special to the CS&T
PHILADELPHIA — Jack McNamee can’t imagine a better year than
the Bicentennial year of the founding of the diocese of Philadelphia to
be named grand marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The parade will be held on Sunday, March 9, following 9 a.m. Mass at the
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
“I just never thought this honor would be mine,” McNamee said,
“and the fact that it is this year makes it even more humbling,
since the theme of the parade builds on the theme of the Bicentennial
— ‘St. Patrick, Serving the People of God in the Beginning,
Now and Always.’”
Service is not new to McNamee, according to his peers.
“Jack has been a member of the AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians)
for 30 years. During that time his generosity has had no limit,”
said Michael Bradley, president of the St. Patrick Day Observance Association.
He nominated McNamee as grand marshal.
McNamee “has kept many a person, and organization, afloat with his
donations of time, talent and money,” said Bradley, “and he
has never tooted his own horn, jumped in front of a camera, looked for
recognition. Nor ever once did he ask, ‘What’s in it for me?’”
McNamee, a first-generation American, attributes his generosity to example:
“I learned to serve others when I was very young … from the
sisters and priests in St. Benedict and St. Helena elementary schools,
and Cardinal Dougherty High School. By their example, they reinforced
the lessons I learned at home from my parents,” he added. “My
parents were both born in Donegal, and I can still remember how special
Fridays were in our home. There was always a trip … to the post
office to send money to the relatives in Ireland, and at night the house
was full of company.”
Until recently, McNamee owned and operated an Irish pub and restaurant
in Springfield known as C. J. Magee’s. “When it was time to
name the place, I automatically thought of my parents. The ‘C.’
is for Catherine; the ‘J.’ for John — and the Magee
was my Dad’s nickname,” he said.
With his wife, Loretta, and son, Sean, he operated the restaurant for
16 years.
McNamee, a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Springfield, took
his first restaurant job out of high school. After 28 years, he was general
manager of a City Line restaurant where, he said, “a lot of people
gave me advice — and I took every bit of it.”
Does McNamee’s wife of 37 years, who grew up in a Polish family
and belonged to St. Ladislaus Parish, mind that she’s spent so many
years working for, and giving to, so many very Irish events?
“Not at all,” Loretta said with a laugh. “I love the
Irish — by this time, I think I am Irish.”
As pleased as he is to be grand marshal this year, McNamee noted with
sadness the death of Father Kevin Trautner, the longtime chaplain for
the St. Patrick’s Day observance, who died not long after St. Patrick’s
Day last year.
“He loved everything about the parade,” McNamee said. “I’m
sure he’ll be with us in spirit.” The Mass before the parade
will be celebrated in the Cathedral for the first time in many years.
Sister Kathleen Leary, S.S.J., is archdiocesan Coordinator for Vocations
to Consecrated Life and a former staff member of The Catholic Standard
& Times.