PITTSTON – The 110th St. Patrick’s Day Dinner hosted by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will occur tonight at the Woodlands Resort. The main speaker is Stephen D. Keener, president & CEO of Little League Baseball. The 2024 award winners will be recognized.
The late John Thalenfeld, The Man of the Year; John P. Borzell, Swingle Award; Hon. Joseph J. Carmody, Achievement Award; and Joseph F. Long, President’s Award, will be honored this evening during the dinner.
2024 Man of the Year Award
Man of the Year, John Thalenfeld was born on July 17, 1956, in Queens, New York, to Lillian and David Thalenfeld. He passed away unexpectedly this past Feb. 4 at the age of 67.
Thalenfeld was named president and CEO to the family-owned business Trion Industries in 1986, a position he has held ever since until his untimely death.
As president & CEO, Thalenfeld encouraged a giving culture while achieving success at Trion Industries for the past several decades. He promoted an environmental stewardship and community and employee engagement agenda unique to Trion.
He married the artist Mindi Thalenfeld in 1982 and had two children, Rebecca and Adam. His family grew again when Rebecca’s son Elijah was born. Thalenfeld’s grandson Elijah brought him so much joy.
Thalenfeld was a loving and generous son, father and friend. He was a charitable and kind leader committed to managing his business with integrity and treating his employees with kindness. He supported Trion’s workers during the challenging years of the COVID-19 pandemic when the company had to temporarily shut down. He invited his coworkers to events that fostered community like golf tournaments, philharmonic concerts and holiday dinners.
Following in the footsteps of his father, David, Thalenfeld was also a valued philanthropist dedicated to serving his community in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He devoted his time to many service organizations and made many charitable contributions.
His intelligence, can-do mentality, and generosity made a difference in our community. He was named the Philanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has been recognized by numerous nonprofits.
Thalenfeld served as chair of the Family Service Association three times. He was chair of the Jewish Community Alliance. He was also on the board at Temple B’nai Brith and AllOne Charities; Children’s Service Center; Appleseed Foundation; United Way; Highmark/First Priority; Wyoming Valley HealthCare System; and the PNC Regional Advisory Board.
He had a heart of gold, and was extremely proud of his children, who grew up to continue their father’s legacy of charitable community involvement. His son Adam, a small business owner, serves on and leads many charitable boards, and the two bonded over their love of service. His daughter Rebecca is a counselor at a MAT clinic in Dunmore and has counseled incarcerated individuals.
In the last several years even though John battled with Guillain-Barre syndrome, his philanthropy and community involvement did not waver.
W. Francis Swingle Award
John P. Borzell is the recipient of the W. Francis Swingle Award.
Borzell, who is the son of the late John D. Borzell and Margaret Callahan Catell, graduated from Wyoming Area High School in 1973 and attended Wilkes College to study Environmental Science.
In 1975, he joined the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers as a third-generation family member.
He worked as a mechanic specializing in high rigging at multiple power plants, refineries, and paper and cement plants. He took welding classes and became a certified pressure welder in 1987. John advanced in his career with the boilermakers, eventually becoming a general foreman and superintendent on many multi-million dollar projects.
After 40 years with the boilermakers, John retired in 2015 and now spends his time organizing and interviewing potential building trade candidates as a volunteer. He worked as a Business Agent for Local 13 covering 17 counties in Northeast and Central PA.
Throughout his years with the boilermakers, John was also involved in coaching and various youth organizations, including serving as a Little League baseball coach for 7 years, Junior Legion baseball coach for 4 years, and West Pittston Rams football coach for 5 years.
Borzell is a 28-year member of Moose Lodge 1207 and was involved in the Boilermakers Political Action Committee and the Boilermakers Local 13 outreach program.
He and his wife, Mary Claire, have two successful children: Julianna, a school counselor for Dallas School District, and the late John Anthony Borzell, an Environmental Scientist.
On Sept. 3, 2011, the Borzell family tragically lost their son in a motorcycle accident. Despite their profound grief, they received tremendous support from friends and family to cope with the loss and move forward each day.
Borzell, his wife, and daughter made a life-changing decision to honor their son’s legacy and fulfill his dreams. In 2012, they established the “John Anthony ‘Beno’ Borzell Memorial Scholarship.”
This scholarship provides $1700 annually to scholar-athletes majoring in Environmental Science or a related science at a 4-year University. The family aims to award at least 1-2 scholarships each year and has pledged a room in the new Cohen Science Center at Wilkes University.
Borzell and his family found solace in their son’s promise. They have received overwhelming support and donations for a yearly memorial golf tournament, which has grown from 15 foursomes in 2012 to over 50 foursomes every September at Blue Ridge Golf Trail.
To date, 60 students from Wyoming Area Secondary Center have received $1700, and 3 students were awarded the ‘heart award’ of $1017, totaling over $105,000. The remaining proceeds are presented to Wilkes University every year on Earth Day.
At Wilkes University, an Environmental Chemistry Lab in the Cohen Science Center has been named in memory of their son.
In 2019, a science and engineering classroom was also dedicated in Beno’s honor. An endowed scholarship in Beno’s memory is now presented to students studying Earth and Environmental Science at the University. Contributions to Wilkes University since the tournament’s inception total $150,000.
Supporting these students and staying connected to many of these young adults is what truly motivates Borzell and his family to continue progressing.
Informing the students, giving them their awards, and walking around the campus of Wilkes University, Borzell looks up and smiles, knowing that they are carrying on Beno’s tradition of assisting students.
Distinction Honor
Judge Joseph J Carmody, Esq., is the 2024 recipient of the Distinction Honor.
Carmody has worked at the Wyoming Area District Court since 2003.
He graduated from East Stroudsburg University and the Western New England School of Law.
Carmody has worked as assistant attorney general with the Pennsylvania Department of Revnue in Harrisburg, taught law as an instructor at Lackawanna Junior College and before his election to the bench, served as first assistant district attorney of Luzerne County.
He runs a private law practice in West Pittston and is a Board Member of the Commission of Economic Opportunity, currently serving as its President, and is a former President of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
As a District Magistrate, Carmody has volunteered for the Luzerne County Drug Treatment Court, acting as alternate Judge and a member of the team since its founding in 2005.
Carmody is the son of the late Joseph and Jule Carmody. He lives in West Pittston and is married to the former Catherine Sowa.
The Carmodys are proud parents of five children, Joseph (Emily) a graduate of the University of Pittsburg and employed by the CBS TV affiliate in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Christopher (Lorie), a graduate of the University of Connecticut and employed by the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority; Mathew (Amanda), a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Roger Williams School of Law, a lawyer and founding partner with the firm Joyce, Carmody, and Moran, Pittston; Sarah (Kevin Salvo), who attended Misericordia University and is employed by Adapt Health, Philadelphia, and Michael (Karen), a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, and a third year law student at Catholic University, Washington, DC, where is employed as a lobbyist.
The Carmodys have eight grandchildren. When time allows Judge Carmody enjoys playing golf.
President’s Honor
This year’s President’s Honor recipient is Joseph Long Jr., the son of the late Joseph and Rosemary Larkin Long of Wilkes-Barre.
Long grew up in South Wilkes-Barre and is a 1982 graduate of Bishop Hoban High School. He graduated from King’s College in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Long received his first of two master’s degrees from Wilkes University in 2004, in Classroom Technology and in Educational Leadership 2006.
Long obtained his Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Edinboro University in 2014.
He began his educational career in 1997 as a middle school math and science teacher at St. Mary’s Assumption, Pittston.
In 2001, he accepted a position to teach technology in the Pittston Area Intermediate Center that housed the districts third through fifth grades. It was there he completed his educational leadership training.
In 2006, Long continued working as a manager at the Greater Nanticoke Area School District, where he oversaw the high school, middle school, and elementary schools at different times. While at Nanticoke, he received training and certification in Student Assistance Program (SAP) and completed the state-required National Institute of School Leadership Courses.
Long was the head of Montgomery Avenue Intermediate Center in the Wyoming Area School District. During that period he helped manage the switch to center-based schooling. Right now, Long is the superintendent of the Northwest Area School District in Shickshinny.
He has had a long and successful career as a coach. He started coaching basketball in 1985 as the coach for seventh and eighth graders at Plains Junior High. In 1990, he continued coaching at E. L. Meyers High School, working as the coach for seventh and eighth graders, junior high, and eventually an assistant varsity coach.
During his time at Meyers, he aided the varsity program in winning four Wyoming Valley Conference Championships, one PIAA District 2 second-place finish, and making four state tournament appearances.
In 1997, Long took on the role of head varsity basketball coach at Seton Catholic High School in Pittston. Over 10 years, Long led the Eagles to over 130 wins, two Wyoming Valley Conference Championships, one PIAA 2 Championships, two PIAA District 2 second-place finishes, and four state tournament appearances, including reaching the final eight in Class A in 2002.
At Seton, he was honored as Wyoming Valley Conference Coach of the Year twice. Long wrapped up his coaching career at Luzerne County Community College for four years and his teams made playoffs in three of those four years.
Following in the footsteps of his parents, Long and his family are committed to serving the community. In addition to being an active member of the Friendly Sons and serving as the Organization’s 104th President in 2018, he served as treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Greater Pittston Library.
Long has been the treasurer of the Jenkins Township Little League from 2013 to 2018. He is also the assistant district administrator for the PA District 16/31 Little League Board, in charge of the major league boy’s baseball division since 2013.
He received his Fourth Degree Knighthood in June of 2013 and is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, John F. Kennedy Division in Greater Pittston, serving as a member of their Board. Long is also a member of PA Assoc. of School Administrators.
In 2022, Long was appointed to the Luzerne County Community College Board of Trustees. He currently serves as the board's secretary and is chairman of the Student Success and Workforce Development Committee.
Long lives in Jenkins Township with his wife and what he believes is the reason for his success in life, the former Jenny Meade.
The Longs have three children, Joey (20), Jack (19) and Julia Rose (15).
Raymond J. Boyle will be the 2024 Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Dinner Toastmaster.
Shawn D. Brogan is the general chairman of this year’s dinner.
