Pictured: John Priesing. Photo by A. Warner
By Staff
May 22, 2024: John Priesing has been named Grand Marshal of Bronxville's 2024 Memorial Day Parade. He says he is "very honored to be Grand Marshal after watching these important parades all these years."
John grew up in Scarsdale, and he and his wife, Madryn, have lived in Bronxville for over 50 years. He says that the most important reason they moved to Bronxville was because his wife was "a great friend" of his sister, Ann Foster, who lived here with her husband, Doug, and their four children.
John and Madryn's son, John, graduated from the Bronxville School and St. Lawrence University. He, his wife Erin, and their two children, Elle and Mac, now live in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
During the Korean War, John Priesing was a gunnery officer on a destroyer escort in the Pacific operating out of Guam and Pearl Harbor. After the Korean Armistice, he was transferred to Washington to the Bureau of Naval Personnel.
Memorial Day is particularly meaningful to John because it stands for "love of country and remembrance of all who served to protect our freedom and way of life." He also lost two high school friends in the war, one on Iwo Jima and the other in combat on the very last day of the Korean War.
John has also had a distinguished educational and professional career. He graduated from Amherst College ('50) and Harvard Business School. He served as the President and CEO of Axel Johnson Inc., a privately held industrial conglomerate with twelve different businesses and annual sales of around $1 billion. After retiring at the end of 1988, he worked on assignments for a private equity firm over the years.
Before working at Axel Johnson Inc., John was Group Vice President at Phelps Dodge Industries, General Manager of a division at H. K. Porter, a consultant at McKinsey and Co. Inc., and in sales management at Allied Chemical.
John has also played an important role in the local Bronxville community. As Mayor Mary Marvin said, during his years in Bronxville, John "has touched every important institution by lending his leadership skills, good judgment and acumen."
His leadership roles in Bronxville include Chairman of the Board of Governors of Lawrence Hospital, President of the Bronxville School Board, Member of the Village Zoning Board, and Member of the Village Ethics Committee.
John says the community service boards he was involved with "have been a very significant part of my life." Each had its different challenges and dedicated board members. His advice on community service is "to get involved." "It can be a wonderful learning experience, and, for most, the reward is new, good friends."
Outside of Bronxville, John has served as a Trustee of Saint Lawrence University and is currently a Westchester Community College Foundation board member.
He has also served as President of The Children's Village (CV), which provides critical services to more than 10,000 children and families throughout the New York metropolitan area.
John's advice to young people is to be curious. "If you're curious about many things, you are much more likely to have good judgment, be balanced, and enjoy better relationships with people."
HOME & GARDEN
Bronxville Beautification Council
Organized in 1982, the Bronxville Beautification Council (BBC) is a not-for-profit organization administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The mission of the BBC is to enhance and maintain the natural and man-made beauty of the village of Bronxville, with an emphasis on the downtown business district.
Click here to learn more
Boulder Ledge Garden Club
Founded in 1966, the Boulder Ledge Garden Club is rooted in a mission to inspire a deeper appreciation and love for gardening and flower arranging. The club is dedicated to fostering and promoting interest and knowledge in gardening.
The Club maintains Bronxville’s Bicentennial Park and other civic gardens. In 2019–2020 the club raised $18,000 to replace trees in the village, reflecting its active role in community beautification. It also holds garden therapy projects and educational garden trips for members.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.m or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bronxville Giving Garden
The Bronxville Giving Garden is a community-centered garden that donates organic produce to Eastchester Community Action Partnership in Tuckahoe and Community Service Associates in Mount Vernon. The garden is also a gathering place where school children and volunteers can discover the joy of tending plants and growing food.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bronxville Green Committee
The Bronxville Green Committee is a volunteer organization that is part of the Village of Bronxville. It proposes and implements environmentally sustainable programs in our community.
You can contact them HERE.
SCOUTING
Bronxville Boy Scouts
The village of Bronxville has a long tradition of scouting. “The troops and packs of Bronxville have maintained the finest scouting organizations and have taught the boys of the Bronxville area to be leaders and outstanding members of the local, national and global communities.”
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information
Bronxville Girls Scouts
The Girls Scouts is “the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.” In Girl Scouts, “girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Through the many enriching experiences provided by Girl Scouts, they can grow courageous and strong.”
Here is more information about girl scouts.
HISTORY
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
Inspired by the highly successful Bronxville Centennial Celebration in 1998, the Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded to record and preserve Bronxville's history and life in the village today.
BRONXVILLE SCHOOL
Bronxville School Foundation
The Bronxville School Foundation, founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization independent from the school with the sole purpose of supporting the school.
The mission of the Bronxville School Foundation is to enhance the quality of public education in our community by engaging the support and energies of educators, citizens, parents, students and alumni.
The Foundation awards grants for projects
CLICK HERE to learn more.
LECTURES, EXHIBITS, CONCERTS
Bronxville Women's Club
The Bronxville Women’s Club offers lectures, exhibits and concerts. It also has a beautiful clubhouse which is available for rental for events.
135 Midland Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3252
Concordia Conservatory
Concordia Conservatory, a preeminent center for music education in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, is a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.
The Conservatory’s mission is to inspire, instruct, and enrich lives through music offering excellence in education and performance.
CLICK HERE for more information.
COUNSELING
Counseling Center
Founded in 1971, the mission of the Counseling Center “is to provide a wide range of psychotherapeutic and counseling services to individuals, couples and families by a staff of highly trained, experience and dedicated psychotherapists.
The Counseling Center
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-3388
www.counselingcenter.org
SERVICE & VOLUNTEERISM
Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe
The mission of the Community Fund is “to support broad social services in Bronxville 10708, Eastchester and Tuckahoe through grants and technical support to local agencies and community projects. All money raised here in our community stays here in our community.”
15 Park Place
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-8808
www.thecommunityfund.org
Junior League of Bronxville
The Junior League of Bronxville is “an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.”
Rotary Club of Bronxville
The Rotary Club of Bronxville is part of a national network of 1.25 million problem-solvers. They see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
READING & LEARNING
Friends of the Bronxville Library
The Friends of the Bronxville Library is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to focus attention on the “Library’s services, facilities and needs” as well as sponsor projects and provide materials that are beyond the reach of the Library's regular budget and perform other services.
SENIORS
Gramatan Village
Gramatan Village is a unique community model offering programs, services and social connections that help members continue to live independently in their homes as they age. In addition, GV offers one-on-one consultations and counseling with our experienced staff to guide members through life’s transitions.
Senior Citizens of Bronxville
Senior Citizens of Bronxville is a not-for-profit organization that provides services and programs to seniors within the 10708 zip code area. “Programs cover a wide range of activities from educational seminars and cultural enrichment to community services, bridge classes and exercise.”