Jim Russell – Rockland County Aide to the Grand Marshal

 

A native of Woodbury, N.Y. and a graduate of St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, N.Y., Jim earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from STAC in 1999.  He received his Master’s Degree in Social Studies Education from NYU in 2003.  Additionally, he received his Master of Science in Education (Educational Leadership) from St. Thomas Aquinas College in 2016.  Jim’s dad is a native of Dublin, Ireland (Clonliffe) and his paternal grandparents were from Dublin and Kildare (Maynooth).  
In 2001, he began his teaching career in the NYC Board of Education at M.S. 80 in the Norwood section of the Bronx.  In 2006, Jim left M.S. 80 and began teaching at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack, N.Y. where he currently teaches in the Social Studies Department.  In addition, Jim has served as Parish Youth Minister at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Nyack, N.Y. where he will be celebrating his 20th anniversary in Youth Ministry this year.   
Jim joined Division 1, North Rockland in 1999 and immediately became involved in the division.  He has served as Secretary, Vice President and President of the Division.  On the county level, Jim has served as Scholarship Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, President (2013-2017) and currently is Immediate Past County President.  Jim also served as Co-Chair for the 1st two halfway to Rockland County’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade fundraisers for two years that raised in excess of $20,000, Parade Mass and Breakfast Chairperson, he also was involved in the Rockland Feis as the Mass Chairperson.  He was also Mass chairperson for the extremely successful 2011 NYS AOH State Convention that was held in Pearl River.  On the state level, Jim is chairperson of the New York State Scholarship Committee.  He has also been a member of the committee that coordinated the national dinners’ for Past National President, Brendan Moore.
Jim is also a Sparkill Dominican Associate.  Jim states, “As I have grown in my commitment to the Sparkill congregation, I have found that the warmth the sisters have is contagious.  I always think back to a statement one of the sisters made, where one Sparkill Dominican is, there is the congregation.  I am so very lucky to be walking this path of life with women who are making a difference.”    
When he began researching the events of 1916, unbeknownst to Jim, his paternal grandmother’s uncle was involved in the rising in 1916.  
Jim and his wife Tricia were married on August 29, 2009.  They have an almost 6 year old daughter, Annie who is the light of their lives!