Honoring Andrew E. Healey

I was blessed for knowing and working with Andy Healey throughout the years with the Ancient Order of Hibernians. I sought his advice as a friend and at many events. Andy was a friend to all in the AOH and Town of Hempstead.

Andrew Healey, is an impressive example of community service and Irish pride. He did so much for so many and consistently used his time, talent and treasure for the good of our community.  The few achievements listed here show how deserving he was of our respect. Mr. Healey was a man who got involved and got things done!

As a Hibernian, Andy served on the Nassau County AOH Board, and was a President at AOH Division 17. Heading multiple events and far reaching causes, he always led the way.

As a long-time member of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration Committee, he was a recipient of the “Chairman’s Award of Appreciation” due to his commitment to the parade, and in 2005, Andrew was an “Aide to the Grand Marshal”. Additionally, he was as member of the Rockville Centre Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, member of the Executive Board, and was a Deputy Grand Marshall of the Queens County parade.

He was a revered member of “The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Long Island”. Andy was a member of the Coalition for Father Duffy/Times Square Project and affiliated with the Regimental Headquarters of the “Fighting 69th”. He was a long time member of the Board of Directors for the Irish Americans in Government and was an Advisory Member of the Irish Studies Institute at Molloy College.

Mr. Healey was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, was inducted in 2001 as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. He was a member of the Rockville Centre Fire Department, Floodlight Co.#1 Emergency & Rescue, for over 40 years, where he served the community as a firefighter and an EMT.

Andrew was also very involved with Mercy Medical Center where he served in every capacity on the Board of Sponsors and chaired all major fundraisers and continued to be a Special Advisor to Mercy Medical Center. He was a former Member of the Board of Governors at Mercy and a Past President of the Friends of Mercy. In 2015, Andrew was the recipient of the prestigious Theodore Roosevelt Award for Outstanding Service.

Mr. Healey also Co-Chaired a historic Irish-American effort to achieve National recognition for the presently named Rockville Cemetery for the Bristol and Mexico Monument there. This cemetery contains the mass grave of 139 people, mostly Irish immigrants, from two shipwreck disasters off of the Long Island Coast. The committee refurbished and re-dedicated the monument on the occasion of its 175th Anniversary in October 2015.  It is my pleasure to attend this annual ceremony to celebrate the achievement of being added to the National Register of Historic Places.

For all of these reasons, we are privileged to have known Andy, and were always proud to have him among our ranks.

I and all Hibernians thank him not just for all of his good work and dedication, but for the example he set.

Thank you Andy

In Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity

Jack O’Brien, President, Nassau County, Ancient Order of Hibernians