Daniel Sheehan was born in County Limerick in 1944 and grew up with his seven siblings on a small family farm. He attended Fedamore National School and the Christian Brothers Secondary School in Limerick before immigrating to England in 1960, where he worked in construction. In the fall of 1964, he arrived in New York City and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens College of the City University of New York in 1977.  Dan worked in the building maintenance industry until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1965.  He served honorably and was discharged in 1967 with the rank of Sergeant.  After his service, he worked as an auditor for Bankers Trust on Wall Street before joining the New York City Transit Police in 1970.  In 1973, he entered the Nassau County Police Department, where he served until his retirement in 2001 as a Detective Sergeant. Dan is a 35-year member of the American Association for Professional Law Enforcement. Dan has been involved with the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 1965.  Over the years, he has held numerous roles, including delegate from County Limerick and, more recently, as delegate representing County Derry.  He also served as Public Relations and Press Officer during Frankie Beirne’s tenure as Parade Chairman.  In 1985, he nominated Congressman Peter King, to serve as Grand Marshal, reflecting a long and trusted friendship between their families. For twenty-one years, Dan proudly led the Nassau County Police Emerald Society and Pipe Band Marching Unit in the Parade as the Commanding Officer of the Nassau County Police Color Guard. He and his late wife, Margaret, have been steadfast financial supporters of the parade since 1965.  Dan has been a dedicated member of the Nassau County Police Emerald Society since 1973, serving as President in 1983 and 1984.  He is a founding member of the Long Island Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and has been a member of the American Legion since 1973.  He is also a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and a longtime member of several organizations, including the Nassau County Police Holy Name Society, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Nassau County Association of Retired Police Officers, the Nassau County Police Military Veterans Association, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians—first with Division 6 in New Hyde Park and currently with Division 15 in Whitestone.  Additionally, he has been a member of the County Derry Society of New York since 1970 and serves as its delegate to both the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the United Irish Counties Association. He is a past Treasurer and currently serves as the Financial Secretary and Auditor of the Irish Institute of New York.  Dan is also a member of the Irish Arts Center, the Irish Repertory Theatre and is a lifetime member of the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens.  Dan and Margaret were married for fifty-six years until her passing in May 2025. They are the parents of three: John, Brian (married to Tina), and Nora (married to Jim), and they have four grandchildren, Joan, Jimmy, Ellen, and Danny. Since 1968, Dan and his family have lived in Mary’s Nativity Parish in Flushing.

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