St. Mary’s Names Parisian Family As School’s Distinguished Partners

By KAY BASHAW


Al Parisian, on behalf of his family, was presented with the St. Mary’s School 2011 Distinguished Education Partner Award Tuesday, Feb. 1, in a ceremony in his room at the Fox Nursing Home.
Daughter Janice and husband David Currie, son Steve, and Sid with his wife Deb, were on hand to celebrate this occasion.
For years, Alvin L. Parisian, who has lived in Oneonta for 44 years, his wife, the late Margaret Parisian, and the rest of the family operated the Friday night Bingo that benefited St. Mary’s.
“He prepared all week making sure the cards were ready and everything was in place for the evening,” said Sid, who also recalled Al being by Margaret’s side at St. Mary’s election-day bake sales.
Janice recalled how people always asked for her dad to help at funerals, and how even two weeks after the family lost a son and a brother, he was there to share with others.
“That community runs deep in the family and still continues, “ said Janice.  “An usher every Sunday at church, helping with Meals on Wheels, being part of St. Mary’s Festivals and fund raisers, has instilled in all the children the idea of giving back.” 
The family helped install the wooden frame in the old St. Mary’s School at Elm and Walnut for the plaque that Father Paul Roman had made to honor State Trooper Ricky “Pit” Parisian, the son and  brother who died trying to halt an armed robbery in a Southside supermarket in 1994.
All but one of Al and Margaret’s six children attended St. Mary’s.
This is the third year St. Mary’s has presented the away.    The first year, the award went to Joanne Lamonica, a member of the St. Mary’s school board, who along with her husband Diz donated the school chapel.  Last year, it went to Rick and Michelle Eastman of Eastman Associates.