AOH to honor the Kales


March 9, 2008 at 12:10a.m.

AOH to honor the Kales

YOUNGSTOWN — A Boardman couple has been singled out for recognition by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America and will be honored at a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon Saturday.

Sponsored by the Joseph T. Nalley Division 6 of the organization, the festivities will begin with a 10:30 a.m. Mass followed by the luncheon at noon at St. Patrick Church, 1410 Oak Hill Ave.

Honored will be Robert Kale, the Irish Man of the Year, and Colleen Kelly Kale, the Irish Woman of the Year.

Mr. Kale has been employed for the past 19 years by Mahoning County Sanitary Engineering Department. He holds a Class III Wastewater License and a Water Distribution License and is currently the senior operator at the Boardman Treatment plant, where he has served as vice president and president of the local union.

He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and is a Fourth-Degree Knight. He served on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee and is its treasurer. He was elected president of the Gathering of the Irish Clans committee last year. As a member of the AOH, he worked on the luncheon, float and state convention committees.

Mrs. Kale, who was an Irish step dancer as a child, has held several offices with the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and is currently its treasurer. In 2005 she was the treasurer of the state convention hosted by Mahoning County, and is the co-treasurer of a fundraising campaign for the 2008 national convention. She is recording secretary for Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee and recording secretary for the Gathering of the Irish Clans committee. She works part time for Mahoning County Board of Elections and has returned to school to further her education.

The couple were married May 25, 1996, and are the parents of two sons, Patrick Kieran and Rory Liam. They are members of St. Patrick Church in Youngstown, where he is a member of the renewal team. In 1998 they formed their business, Balloontastic, working for schools, churches, nonprofit fundraisers and other worthwhile causes in the community.