Dermot F. Kelly
Title/Position: Director of Real Estate Buck Realty of Long Island
Town, State: Lynbrook, NY
Tell us about yourself and your family life:
I was born in County Offaly Ireland where both my parents Kathleen and Brendan were from and raised in Flushing, New York. My family moved here when I was very young but visited our family in Ireland every summer where my brother Kevin and sister Brenda (RIP) and I had a great time playing with our cousins and helping out on the farm. We grew up surrounded by Irish music and culture. My mother was very involved with Irish Political Action associations in New York and always enlisted us to help. I attended St. Franci Prep High School and graduated from Iona College (now Iona University) in 1982.
I have been married to my wonderful wife Patricia for 27 years who has been my partner in all things. We have a great son Brendan who is a graduate of Salve Regina University and recently moved to San Diego California to start a career in the Energy Industry. We are tremendously proud of Brendan.
Tell us about your professional life:
I spent a few years in the financial services industry before starting a career in Finance and Real Estate with New York State’s Empire State Development Corporation where I spent over 20 years eventually becoming the Vice President of Portfolio Management and Property Development. I spent an additional 12 years working in various municipal positions in Nassau County, Long Island until I retired from public service in 2007. I am currently in the commercial real estate business principally in Long Island. I am currently a member and past President of the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Long Island. I also have been an AOH member for over 30 years and served as a Division President and was honored as Man of the Year in 2000. I was an Aid to the Grand Marshall in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1997 and was very proud to be the Guest of Honor at the Rockland County GAA Dinner Dance in 2008. I serve on the Molloy University Irish Studies Board, and I am an Associated Director of the Irish Americans in Government. Lastly, I recently became a member of the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens.
What is your connection to Project Children?
In 1991 myself and Bernie Morris along with our AOH brothers in NYC Division 7 founded the “Kruise for Kids” to benefit Project Children. The cruise became one of the most popular events of the year for many Irish Americans. We had great bands including the Cunningham Brothers, Celtic Cross, Shay Mac, Marie Mc Vicker just to name a few and sold out with over 600 people attending for 20 years! I became interested in Project Children after being introduced to Denis Mulcahy by Bernie Morris. Denis and all of the Mulcahy family have so much to be proud of the 50 years they have brought over 23,000 children and hundreds of Interns to the USA. I consider them to be personal friends and am very proud to have been a small part of the journey.
Do you have a favorite PC memory?
My favorite times with Project Children were of course the cruise, chaperoning the children back to Ireland and listening to their stories of the great summer they had in America.
Tell us what it means to be a PC ambassador for the PC Picnic and 5k and the Move to Monaghan:
I can’t thank Denis, Miriam, the Mulcahy family and all in Project Children enough for the experiences they have given me, and I am extremely honored for them appointing me an Ambassador for Project Children.
