John Priesing Named Grand Marshal of Bronxville's 2024 Memorial Day Parade
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."
Community Service Organizations Directory
Bronxville Beautification Council
Organized in 1982 and incorporated in 1993, the Bronxville Beautification Council (BBC) is a not for profit organization administered by a Board of Directors. Its mission is to enhance and maintain the natural and man-made beauty of Bronxville Village, with emphasis on the downtown business district of Bronxville. The BBC uses the dollars raised in its annual spring solicitation letter to residents to fund the mum, tulip and summer flower plantings downtown and at traffic intersections, as well as the summer hanging baskets. Every few years the group spearheads such major endeavors as the renovation of Leonard Morange Square on the west side of the railroad tracks and the beautification of the Lawrence Hospital traffic circle, which included the addition of plants and the building of the fountain that now makes a gracious western portal to our town. The BBC also works with other civic groups to monitor the aesthetics of retail signage, the consistency of sidewalk materials, and litter and graffiti. During Beautify Bronxville Week, the BBC sponsors a poetry reading and works with Scout groups on the annual village clean-up.
Bronxville Beautification Council
PO Box 127
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-779-6123
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.”
There are several Boy Scout Troops in Bronxville, including Troops 1, 2, 4, and 5.
Bronxvillle 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.”
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
The Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded in 1998 to further the understanding and appreciation of the history and current life of the village. The Conservancy furthers its mission through the presentation of programs, publications, lectures and special events that foster an awareness of the village's architectural, artistic and cultural heritage, and lends its support for projects designed to strengthen and preserve those legacies. Anyone who is interested in the Bronxville and its history can become a member; varying levels of membership are available.
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
PO Box 989
Bronxville, New York 10708
http://bronxvillehistoricalconservancy.org/
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 Foundation raises money each year through donations from school families, community members, and alumni, among others.These contributions fund grants that provide cutting-edge technology, innovative programs and curriculum and other resources that are beyond the scope of public school funding.
177 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-395-0515
https://www.bronxvilleschoolfoundation.org/
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
www.bronxvillewomensclub.org
Bronxville Youth Council
The Bronxville Youth Council provides volunteer and leadership opportunities for high school students in the village of Bronxville.
177 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-395-0500 ext 1789
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
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
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.
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 mission of the Rotary Club of Bronxville is to “encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and to encourage and foster (1) the development of friendships within the community as an opportunity for service, (2) high ethical standards in business and professions, (3) the application of the ideal of service of each member to his personal and business and community life and (4) the advancement of international understanding, good will and peace through a world fellowship.”
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.”
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