Marian & Jack Hayes

EMERALD OF THE YEAR:  2010

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Bridie Hamilton

EMERALD OF THE YEAR:  2009

 The Emerald Association has proudly chosen Bridie Hamilton to be our 2009 Emerald of the Year.  Bridie and her twin sister, Margaret, were born in Cloonfad, County Roscommon, Ireland to the delight of her parents, Patrick and Anne Heneghan.  She also has another sister, Mary.  She attended Cloonfad National School, but had to leave school at the young age of 14 years when her father died to work on their farm.  A short time later, she spied Sean Hamilton and it was love at first sight.  In 1955 when Bridie was just eighteen, she became engaged and emigrated to the U.S. shortly thereafter.  She lived in the Washington Heights section of New York and got a job three days later.  She moved to Greenwich, CT and worked for a family there during the summer and then worked at their Park Avenue house during the winter.

 Sean worked in England before emigrating to Brooklyn, NY. in February of 1956.  In November of 1956, Bridie and Sean were married and lived in Brooklyn for their first 16 years of marriage.  Their first son, Sean, was born in 1959, followed by Patrick, Maureen, Dan and Patricia, who arrived in 1966.  The family was growing.  Bridie enjoyed spending summers on Tonetta Lake in Brewster, so the family left Brooklyn and moved up to Putnam County for good in 1972. 

 Bridie went to work full time for the U.S. Post Office in Carmel in 1977, in addition to raising her children.  She retired after 22 years in 1998 and enjoys spending time in Cape Cod during the summer and taking short vacations, but is always happy to come home to Brewster and being with her family.  Her son, Sean, lives in Tonetta Lake with his wife, Brenda, Patrick lives in Burlington, CT with his wife Nancy, Maureen lives in Virginia, Dan lives in Dover Plains with his wife Beth and Patricia lives in Hyde Park with her husband Brian.  The Hamiltons have 10 grandchildren and enjoy being grandparents very much.

 Bridie is very involved in The Emerald Association and has served on the Executive Board for several years.  In addition to that, she has chaired dances, picnics, assisted with the Journal, worked at the registration desk and food court at our Annual Feis and has received awards for her Irish soda bread.  She and Sean were chosen to be Grand Marshalls of the 2007 annual St. Patrick’s Parade in Mahopac.  If you think she is very busy, there’s still more to come.  She is also very involved in the community, especially Kiwanis, which benefits special needs children, and has served as Treasurer of that organization for several years, been involved with the Silent Auction and been a major Fund Raiser for their dinners.  It is with great pleasure that we honor this wonderful lady tonight who shares her time and talents with so many.  Please put your hands together as we recognize Bridie Hamilton as our Emerald of the Year of 2009.