Grand Marshal
James J. Miller, Sr.
James J. (Jim) Miller, Sr. has been a resident of Kearny for 26 years.
Born and raised in Jersey City, Jim is the son of William A. and Catherine L. (McMahon) Miller – a high school teacher and a school nurse who founded what is now Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union. He attended St. Ann’s Grammar School in Jersey City and Xavier High School in New York City. A graduate of St. Peter’s College, he also received a Master’s Degree from Seton Hall University. Miller served active duty with the United States Army Field Artillery and was Honorably Discharged from the US Army Reserve as a captain.
After working as a substitute high school teacher in Jersey City, and media specialist at Clifford Scott High School in East Orange, Miller worked for the New Jersey Department of Education as Director of the Bureau of Instructional Technology. He also worked as the Manager of New American Federal Credit Union before assuming his current position as President and CEO of Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union. He holds certifications as a Certified Credit Union Executive and a Credit Union Development Educator. He is a graduate of the Advanced Credit Union Management Institute at the University of Michigan; Credit Union Management School at the University of Wisconsin; and the Credit Union Mortgage Lending School at Ohio State University. He has also served as a member of the Credit Union Legislative Action Committee and on the Executive Committee of the National Credit Union Youth Involvement Board.
As a teenager, Miller was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 75 at St. Ann’s Church in Jersey City. He later went on to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hudson-Hamilton, Hudson-Liberty, and Northern New Jersey Councils of the Boy Scouts of America. He served Council Commissioner, Vice-President, and as President of the Hudson Liberty Council. He volunteered as a Tiger Cub Partner, Den Leader, and Troop Committee Chairman with Pack and Troop 305 at St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny. He is a recipient of the Vigil Honor, the James E. West Fellowship, District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award, and the International Scouter’s Award. Jim has served on staff at six National Boy Scout Jamborees between 1985 and 2001 as well as the 20th World Scout Jamboree in Sattahip, Thailand in 2002.
He has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Jersey City since 1977. Miller chaired many committees and service projects, served as a Club Director, and was elected as Club President in 1993-1994. He is a Jersey City Rotary Foundation Fellow, and has been recognized by Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Miller served many years on the Board of Directors of the Hudson County Chapter of the American Red Cross, including several terms as its Chairman. He has also served on the Board of the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation. In 2007, the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce recognized Miller as a “Hudson County Legend” in honor of his having served over 25 years as a member of their Board of Directors, including terms as Treasurer and Vice-Chairman.
Miller is the father of four children, step-father of one, and the grandfather of five. He and his wife Fran enjoy cooking, travel, and time with family.
Deputy Grand Marshal
Daniel J. Choffo
Daniel J. Choffo is a resident of Harrison and the youngest son of Roy and the late Betty (Brady) Choffo. He attended Holy Cross School, Harrison High School, and Rutgers University, where he obtained a B.S. Degree in Business Administration. In 2011, Daniel and his wife
Andrea along with their two black labs. Miller and Bradie, welcomed their daughter Mia Cristina
into the world.
Since 1998, Dan has been the owner of Harrison Realty located at 111 Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard, a full service residential and commercial real estate agency. Dan, along with the staff at Harrison Realty, dedicate their spare time and resources to help local charities, maintaining a
“give back to the community” business philosophy. Dan is also employed by the Harrison Board of Education as a Fiscal Analyst & Grant Coordinator for the school district. He has also served on the Harrison Planning Board from 2000 to 2003. In 2003, he was appointed to the Hudson County Planning Board serving the role of Chairman in 2007 & 2011. In 2009, Dan wrote an article that was published in the Observer titled “Why I love this Town” after watching how the fire departments from Harrison, Keamy, and East Newark came
together in unison to attack a fire that would have destroyed a multitude of homes near the intersection of North 5th Street and Central Avenue.
Upon Hearing of his selection as Deputy Grand Marshal, Dan stated that he was not only thankful to the United Irish Associations, but that he was also honored and proud to celebrate his Irish Heritage.
Honorary Irish Woman of the Year
The Honorable Carol Jean Doyle
Carol Jean Doyle has been a Kearny Councilwoman for the past 16 years. There, she chairs Finance, Seniors and the United Veterans Organizations. She serves on the Museum and Department of Public Works Comittees.
Carol Jean is a member of the Kearny Municipal Utilities Authority, a 25 year member of the Kearny Safety Council and a member of the Kearny Municipal Alliance, West Hudson Arts and Theater, and Project Graduation Committee. She is a founding member of the Kearny Domestic Violence Task Force and Neighborhood Watch Program. Presently, Carol Jean serves as first vice president and board member for Pathways to Independence. She is also serving her second term as President of the Kearny Optimists, Inc.
Carol Jean has served as president of the Woman’s Club of Arlington, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 99, and the Hudson County Cancer Society. Annually, she chairs the Passaic River Clean-Up, Senior Picnic, Memorial Day Parade, and the Town of Kearny Giving Tree.
For over 30 years, Carol Jean has been an active member of the Friends of Erin, raising scholarship money for students of Irish descent. Carol Jean is a trustee of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and a former Deputy Grand Marshal, Chief of Staff, and Aide for the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Carol Jean is the recipient of the following awards and recognitions: Jersey Journal Woman of Achievement, VFW #1302, Giblin Association, Christopher Columbus, NJ Clean and Passaic River Coalition Award.
She is married to Norman and together, they have a daughter Meghan, who is married to Jon Zimmerman and a son, Norman III. Carol Jean and Norman are the granparents of Ryan Jon and Kelsey Doyle. Carol Jean and Norman’s Irish sons, by a different mother, shared four years in Kearny, when Niall and Paul attended Caldwell College. The boys married and the friendship continues today. Niall and Donna have two children living in Caldwell and Paul returned to Ireland, and there married Gina and has one son.