St. Patrick's Day Parade
12:30 pm, Saturday, March
13, 2010 On 4th Ave from Jefferson, downtown Seattle
HONORARY GRAND MARSHALS
Leo and Carol Costello
Leo and Carol Costello have been involved together in promoting Irish activities in the Seattle area since they married in Seattle 40 years ago.
Both are Seattle natives with Leo coming from a solidly Irish background. His grandfather John F Costello came to the Seattle area from Co. Limerick around 1870 and in 1885, returned to Co. Limerick to marry Bridget Costello (no relation). John and Bridget then raised a family of 11 children on a farm in the area called O’Brien, now part of Kent, and John and Bridget are both are buried in the Seattle area’s Irish Pioneer Cemetery, St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kent. Leo and his brother John attended St. George Grade School, O’Dea High School and Seattle University. He served in the US Coast Guard and after being honorably discharged, worked in the restaurant business and later as a King County Superior Court Bailiff for over 20 years. He is a Past-President of the Friends of St. Patrick, an active member of the Irish Heritage Club, of the Knights of Columbus and is a Past-President of the Seattle Serra Club.
Carol’s parents were born in Montana although her family is mainly of Scandinavian background. After she married Leo in February 1970, she quickly “converted” to being totally Irish and, even during the days when she wasn’t permitted to be a member of the all-male Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, she was heavily involved behind the scenes helping Leo organize the annual banquet of the Friendly Sons. When the organization decided in 1989 to go co-ed and become the Society of the Friends of St. Patrick, Carol was quickly added to the Board of Officers and was the organization’s first female President in 1999. Carol is also an active member of the Irish Heritage Club and of the Seattle Serra Club.
Leo and Carol reside in Kirkland, and enjoy sharing the lives of their eight nieces and nephews and their families.
