The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 4

Proudly Announces Our 2027 Grand Marshal,

THOMAS K. DOUGHERTY

Thomas K. Dougherty is a lifelong Huntington resident, born at Huntington Hospital and raised in the community he so proudly calls home. His roots in Huntington run deep, as do his Irish and Catholic traditions.

Tom’s Irish heritage traces back to the Barony of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. He is the son of James and Rita Dougherty and the grandson of Ellen McCue and James P. Dougherty. He grew up in Huntington with his four brothers: James, Peter, Richard, and Michael.

The Huntington St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been part of Tom’s life for as long as he can remember. As a child, he and his brothers attended the parade with their parents. Afterward, the family would return home to enjoy a traditional Irish-American meal of corned beef and cabbage, along with his mother Rita’s famous Irish soda bread. Those family traditions helped instill in Tom a lifelong appreciation for his Irish heritage and the Huntington community.

Tom’s Catholic roots are equally strong. He and his brothers attended St. Hugh of Lincoln School, where Tom remains a parishioner today. He was an altar boy, received all his sacraments at St. Hugh’s, and married his wife, Elaine, at the church in 1996. Over thirty years later, Tom and Elaine remain happily married and are the proud parents of three sons: Zachary, Tristan, and Jacob. Tom’s sons were also baptized at St. Hugh of Lincoln, continuing a family connection to the parish that spans generations.

Professionally, Tom is self-employed as a Risk Manager and Financial Advisor, with offices in Melville and Rockville Centre. While his career has been an important part of his life, service to his community and preservation of his Irish heritage have always been equally meaningful.

Tom has been a member of the Huntington Ancient Order of Hibernians since 2007. He served as Financial Secretary from 2015 through 2017 and as President from 2018 through 2020. In 2016, he was honored as Brother of the Year, a particularly meaningful recognition because his fellow brothers in the Division selected him.

During his time as President, Tom and the Division helped accomplish many important things. Among them was creating an annual Comedy Night fundraiser that provides scholarships to students with special needs in the five local school districts. What began as a fundraiser has continued to grow, with the number and amount of scholarships increasing over the years.

Tom also helped bring back the Division’s post-parade family celebration, featuring traditional Irish food and music. The event is open to the entire community and gives everyone a chance to come together and share in Huntington’s Irish heritage and traditions.

Now, after a lifetime of attending the Huntington St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Tom has the extraordinary honor of leading it. For a lifelong Huntington resident, devoted husband and father, proud Irish-American, Catholic, Hibernian, and member of the community, there could be no greater honor—and no more fitting way to celebrate the traditions, family, faith, and community that have shaped his life.