Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

WILKES-BARRE — Bishop Joseph Bambera made sure to tell any worried Irish Catholics that they would be able to eat the prime rib offered at the annual dinner for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Yes, the leader of the Scranton Diocese gave them a special dispensation to eat the meat on a Friday during Lent.

For the 74th year, the Irish heritage organization gathered together in the days before St. Patrick’s Day, once again at the Best Western Genetti Hotel and Conference Center, and the ballroom was filled with hundreds of men, both Irish and Irish-for-the-day.

One of the men who fell into the latter category was state Representative Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, who was honored as the organization’s 74th “Man of the Year.”

Pashinski joked about receiving the award, saying he couldn’t believe he was the one to receive it.

“‘Are you running out of Irishmen?’” he said he asked upon hearing he had won the award.

Indeed, looking at the list of past winners shows he is the first one whose name ends in “-ski.”

“I’m Eddie O’Day for the rest of the month,” Pashinski said, before saying in Polish, “I’ll be back in April.”

Pashinski, who was elected to a seventh term in November, was recognized for his work in the community, with the group saying he is constantly working for the betterment of the Wyoming Valley.

Toastmaster Bob Morgan also said the award was being given to Pashinski “for being an overall great Irishman — at least today.”

Pashinski was honored by both Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George and Congressman Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, who awarded him with proclamations from the city of Wilkes-Barre and the United States House of Representatives respectively, officially recognizing him as the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Man of the Year.

After Pashinski was honored, there was a ceremonial changing of the guard, where the group’s now-former president Michael Bradshaw transitioned the title to Patrick Jurish, who will preside over the group until the next annual dinner.

Jurish said it was an honor to be given the title, but he wanted to remind the group of what the celebration was really about: a remembrance of St. Patrick.

According to Jurish, the message of Patrick was a simple one: “To live a life for the benefit of others.”

Jurish said that the charitable efforts of the Friendly Sons stay true to the “Irish roots” of the organization.

“Remember the Irish do not pull that ladder up behind them when they get to the top,” he said.

The event’s keynote speaker was William “Mookie” Wilson, who is best known for bringing the New York Mets to victory in the 1986 World Series over the Boston Red Sox.

For an in-depth look at what Wilson had to say, see the companion piece by Times Leader Executive Editor (and resident Mets fan) Joseph Soprano.

Walt Medina, of Green Castle, left, Chris Tierney, of Doylestown, and Paul Richie, of Forty Fort, chat during the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick annual dinner.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL031619Mookie_3.jpg.optimal.jpgWalt Medina, of Green Castle, left, Chris Tierney, of Doylestown, and Paul Richie, of Forty Fort, chat during the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick annual dinner. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Beth Roper, of Kingston, left, sells 50-50 tickets to Mike Lambert, of Plains Township, and Doug Piazza, of Avoca, at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick annual dinner at Genetti’s in Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL031619Mookie_4.jpg.optimal.jpgBeth Roper, of Kingston, left, sells 50-50 tickets to Mike Lambert, of Plains Township, and Doug Piazza, of Avoca, at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick annual dinner at Genetti’s in Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Pat Kernan

[email protected]