YOUNGSTOWN – The Ancient Order of Hibernians Joseph T. Nalley Sr. Mahoning County Division 6 will honor its 2023 AOH Irishman of the Year and the LAOH Woman of the Year, at its annual Mass and luncheon March 17 at Youngstown St. Patrick Church.
Honorees are: Jim “Beans” Hughes, and Linda Lambert.
Hughes is an active AOH member who, along with his wife Monica, began a foundation to raise money for a variety of charities. Lambert, an active LAOH member and former Mahoning Right To Life president, has worked to foster quality nursing homes and other eldercare projects.
The Mass is at 10:30 a.m., with the luncheon of Irish-American traditional corned beef and cabbage prepared by chef Jeffrey Chrystal, to follow in the church hall. Tickets are $25 and are available in advance by contacting Ray Kelly IV at 330-565-3158 or Mark Klacik at 330-550-4469. A limited number of tickets may be available at the door.
Hughes, who owns and operates the Petri Club, a Youngstown restaurant, and who is employed with the Mahoning County Sanitary Engineer, along with his wife founded and run the “Melanie and Maggie Sosnowski Memorial,” a foundation set up to honor his wife’s late sisters.
Through their foundation, the Hughes family donated to such local charities as The Hope Lodge, Hospice, The Rich Center for Autism and The PKD Foundation.
They also established a scholarship at Youngstown State University in her sisters’ names. In addition, they have given to many local families in need. And they have raised money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Lambert, who moved to Florida after her children graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School, worked for Brookdale Living Communities as a senior counselor. She later worked for Brookdale Living Communities in Southfield, Michigan, and Columbus. When she returned to Youngstown, she worked for eight years at the Inn at Christine Valley.
Among her cherished memories was going to then-Walsh College, North Canton, to see Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 1982. She received a blessing from the future saint.
The AOH, North America’s oldest Catholic organization, was founded in New York City in 1836 with a mission and motto of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity.
The AOH financially supports local charities and causes including St. Vincent de Paul Society, Sojourner House, Dorothy Day House, The Ulster Project, Catholic Charities, Café Augustine, and its own Project St. Patrick, which assists seminarians as they study to become priests.
