William Michael Coffey

On February 09, 1967, William Michael Coffey was born in the Bronx to Terrence (Terry) and Elizabeth (Phyllis) Coffey. William was the second born of seven children in a large Irish family. His father Terry was also born in the Bronx. Billy's mother Phyllis was born in Kells, County Meath, Ireland and moved to America when she was 16 years old. His Irish roots run deep with his grandparents coming from County Longford, County Meath, County Cavan and County Leitrim.

Growing up in the Bronx in a three-bedroom apartment, with seven kids, was no easy task for his parents, however, it did keep them a close-knit family to this day. Billy played Gaelic football in the Bronx for the Fordham Shamrocks in his younger years and enjoyed it immensely. In the 70's Billy's grandmother, Nellie Coffey, who was a considerable influence on his Irish upbringing, would regularly be seen attending any and all Irish social gatherings, fundraisers and GAA events, and there wasn't too many of those events where Billy wouldn't been seen by her side. Friday and Saturday nights were always part of his favorite memories as a child. Billy would spend most weekends at his grandmother’s apartment on Perry Avenue, in the Bronx.  Saturday nights were when family and friends sat around and sang songs and talked to the wee hours of the morning. It was then that he learned the valuable skill of mixing a Highball or a Tom Collins. Who knew that bartending skill would play a significant role later in his life tending bar. When he was almost 12 years old, the Coffey family packed up and moved to Orange County in December of '78 and they have been here ever since. 

William graduated from Washingtonville High School in 1985. He spent most of his life in the construction industry as a carpenter. In 1995 he moved to San Diego, California where he owned and operated, We Haul, a home moving and freight shipping company in San Diego and was concurrently the general manger for Global Logistics Shipping. Upon his return to NY, he joined IBEW Local 164 as a communications electrician in New Jersey and the past 23 years he has been employed at the Glezen Fisher Group, as an architectural door and hardware consultant and a manufacturer’s sales representative. In 2017 he formed Blackthorn Sales and Consulting Services and in 2020 purchased the Glezen Fisher Group where he still works as an architectural hardware specification consultant today.

William is the Immediate Past President and proud member of Orange County AOH Joseph D. Duelk Jr Division 1, in Monroe, NY. In 2018 he was elected as their Vice President. In 2019 he was then elected President and honorably served as such for 4 years until he resigned in 2022. William currently serves as Marshal for Orange County AOH Board. He is a ranking member on the executive board for the JDJ Corporation in Monroe, NY. William is currently on the executive board for the Mid-Hudson St Patrick’s Parade Committee and has been proudly serving as the Vice President as such for the past 5 years. In 2013, William became involved with coaching Hurling and Gaelic Football for St Brendan’s Gaelic Football Club and shortly after was elected to their executive board as Vice President where he served from 2015-17 and then was elected President in 2018 and served until 2020. He is currently an Auditor for St Brendan’s Gaelic Football Club. William is also the Chairman for a few positions at Monroe’s AOH Division 1: Thomas Flemming Memorial Scholarship Fund Chairman, Missions and Charities Chairman, Division Organizer and was most recently appointed as lead chair for the Division Election Committee.

Billy is extremely humbled to have been nominated to be the Grand Marshal, in the 2025 Mid-Hudson Saint Patrick’s Parade, in Goshen, NY and will accept that position with great honor!