D鈥橝RCY, EAMON (July 17, 1928 - May 16, 2014) was a master stonecutter and Irish American community leader who created the Irish Famine Memorial in the FLATS. One of six siblings in a Catholic family, he was born to John and Emma (Kavanagh) D鈥橝rcy in Newry, County Down, in Northern Ireland. 365bet体育在线世界杯 the age of sixteen, D鈥橝rcy left school to become an apprentice stonecutter. He immigrated to Totonto, Canada, in 1951 before moving to Cleveland in 1955, where he worked his trade for various companies. On September 7, 1961 at the age of 33, he officially became a United States citizen.
In 1968, after twenty years working as a stonecutter in Northern Ireland, Canada, and the United States, D鈥橝rcy opened his own business under the name Eamon D鈥橝rcy Stone Contractors. In addition to cutting the Irish Famine Memorial in the Flats, which was dedicated in 2000, he also worked on a fountain at The Irish Heritage Club's, the Celtic Cross and entranceway of the WEST SIDE IRISH AMERICAN CLUB, and stone works at the Irish CULTURAL GARDEN in ROCKEFELLER PARK, JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY and Magnificat High School.
Ever proud of his Irish heritage, D鈥橝rcy was active in many of the city鈥檚 Irish American community organizations. He was one of the founders of the United Irish Societies of Greater Cleveland, the group that has planned Cleveland鈥檚 Saint Patrick鈥檚 Day parade since 1958. From 1974 to 1977, he served as executive director of the United Irish Societies and in 2003 was named Grand Marshal of Cleveland鈥檚 St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade. D鈥橝rcy was president of St. Patrick鈥檚 Gaelic Football Club, bringing the County Down All-Star team to Cleveland in 1962. He also served as a member of the Irish American Archives Society's board of trustees, receiving the group鈥檚 2006 WALKS OF LIFE AWARD.
D鈥橝rcy was married to Nancy (O鈥機allahan) D鈥橝rcy from 1964 until his death, and had five daughters (Mary Kay, Eileen, Patricia, Annette, Sharon) and one son (Kevin Patrick). He died on May 16, 2014 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in BROOK PARK, OH.
Daniel Brennan and David Patrick Ryan