Steve was born in the Bronx to an Irish American mother (O’Meara) and a Polish American father. His Irish grandfather, Denis, came to America in 1917—just in time to turn around and leave for service in World War I. Steve’s mother made sure her eight children grew up appreciating their Irish heritage, and St. Patrick’s Day was always celebrated with family and plenty of singing.

Steve graduated from Manhattan College in the Bronx. Every St. Patrick’s Day, he could be found marching down Fifth Avenue with the Gaelic Society. After college, he and his wife, Liz Reilly, continued the tradition of attending the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

When Steve moved to the East End, he joined the Knights of Columbus and the AOH Five Sullivan Brothers Division in Smithtown, where he served as Financial Secretary. As his family grew, however, it became difficult to balance those commitments with family and work.

Steve’s interest in all things Irish never faded. His five children—Michael, Caitlin, Anna, Denis, and Jack—were raised surrounded by Irish history, music, and song. Steve and Liz even took the children to Ireland for three weeks one summer, when they were ages 3 to 12. Ask him about that adventure sometime!

In 2008, Steve rejoined the AOH, Division 11, in Hampton Bays and has been very active ever since. He has served on the Parade Committee every year, was Financial Secretary for five years, named Man of the Year in 2011, and has been President of the Hampton Bays Division for the past three years.

As a member of the Parade Committee, Steve nominated and voted for Grand Marshal every year. It came as a complete surprise when, at the 2018 Man of the Year Dinner (which also happened to be Steve’s birthday), Fergus Scully announced him as the Grand Marshal for 2019. Steve thought Fergus was only going to wish him a happy birthday!

Steve is truly honored to serve as Grand Marshal of the 15th Annual Hampton Bays St. Patrick’s Day Parade.