In Memoriam
Some of the faithful who have made major contributions to the
Union County St Patrick's Day
Parade
They are
together now and are part of the
Eternal
Parade
"St. Patrick
& St. Brigid Pray for us ( all of
us)"
__________________________
DENNIS COGAN
James Dennis Cogan was born and raised in Newark. His parents were
James Cogan and Rose (Coleman) Cogan. He graduated from St.
Benedict’s Prep in 1960. Dennis joined the Newark Fire
Department in 1970, retiring in 1998 with the rank of Captain.
While a member of the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Committee, Dennis served in a variety of different roles, including the
Grand Marshal’s Investiture Committee, Board of Trustees, Chief
of Staff for Marilyn Ryan 2002 Grand Marshal and Vice Chairman of the
Parade Committee, culminating in his selection as Parade Chairman for
the 2007 Parade.
He was honored by The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick with their 2003
Distinguished Service Award. Dennis volunteered his time for a
number of local organizations, as well as to his parish, St.
Helen’s Church in Westfield. Dennis was also a Founding
member of Board of Directors of Sister Pat’s Kids Camp for
Children with Cancer.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Peggy, and their three children -
Daniel Cogan; Laura Cogan Cerria and Christopher Cogan, as well as four
grandchildren, Kelsey Cogan, Jack Cerria, Annie Cerria, and Brigid
Cogan, and his sisters, Rosemary Cogan, Marie Manalo and Kathleen Cogan.
__________________________
FATHER CHARLES HUDSON
Charles
Hudson was born on March 9, 1935 in Jersey City, the oldest son of
Charles and Mary Hudson. His boyhood was typical for an Irish
Catholic growing up in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. He
went to Sacred Heart Grammar School and Saint Aloysius High
School. He entered the Immaculate Conception Seminary after High
School. He was ordained a priest on May 26, 1962.
In 1968, Father Hudson met Peggy Coloney who was a nurse at Saint
Elizabeth’s Hospital, Elizabeth, NJ. They both could see
that the emotional and spiritual needs of the sick and dying were not
being addressed. They took it upon themselves to do more and in
1983; they founded the Center For Hope Hospice.
As 1997 began, Charlie was asked to be the Grand Marshal of the Union
County’s first Saint Patrick’s Day to be held that
March. Drew University in Madison, NJ had named him as the
recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian of the Year
Award. He was thrilled with both honors. On January 21,
1997, the morning after he received the honorable award at Drew
University, he died of a heart attack.
At his Funeral Mass, his long time friend and mentor, Father Frank
McNulty, gave the homily and said, “Charlie knew who he was, and
he certainly knew who Christ was. He, Charlie, was Irish.
How thrilled he was to be named Grand Marshal of the St.
Patrick’s Day Parade.”
