First Posted: 3/14/2014
Dr. Shawn Casey has been named Man of the Year by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and will be honored at the 100th anniversary St. Patrick’s Day Banquet Monday night.
Charles Grimes has been named recipient of the W. Francis Swingle Award and also will be honored at the banquet.
Casey is a Pittston native, graduating from Wyoming Area, and Wilkes University. He fulfilled his dream of becoming a Dentist at the University of Pittsburgh and returned to the Pittston Area in 1994 to establish his dental practice.
After nine years as a solo practitioner, Casey established Casey Dental in 2005 when he hired another general dentist to work with him. In 2009, Casey Dental became a practice with multiple doctors and specialists working together in one location. This included Special Needs Dentistry, which he dedicated to his Aunt Mary Casey.
Additional dentists and specialists were hired in 2010 creating a practice that fulfilled all aspects of dental care in one facility. Recently, Casey Dental expanded even more including purchasing and renovation of Convention Hall in Pittston Twp. This new facility is equipped with 39 dental operatories to meet the growing needs of patients in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Interestingly the current location of Casey Dental was the venue for several past Friendly Sons banquets.
Casey is a board member of the Pennsylvania Academy of General Dentistry, a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and Gnothos Orthodontic. He is an active supporter of local charities, church organizations, school districts, and public service organizations.
Casey takes great pride in his Irish heritage and has been an active member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for more than 20 years. In the past, he has accepted the Swingle Award (2003) and has served as president of the organization. His first involvement with the St. Patrick’s Day program was in 1997 as grand marshal.
In 2007, then-President Casey brought Rudy Ruettiger, whose true story inspired the movie “Rudy,” to the banquet as principal speaker.
Casey resides in Jenkins Township with his wife of 21 years, Michele, and their three children, George, Shawna, and Samantha. He is the son of Suzanne Walker Malloy and the late George T. Casey of Pittston.
In 1992, Casey became a Golden Donor for the Friendly So’s Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of his father.
Swingle Award
Charles J. Grimes was born in Plymouth, on Nov. 9, 1946, the son of Joseph and Helen Grimes. He received his early education at St. Vincent’s Catholic School and later at Plymouth High School.
Grimes began his career in 1970 as a driver/sales representative for Freedman Express and retired after 15 years with Conway Freight.
He is a sustaining 4th Degree member and past Grand Knight of the President John F. Kennedy Council #372 Knights of Columbus. He currently volunteers his time with Meals on Wheels of Greater Pittston and the Salvation Army.
Grimes resides in Jenkins Township with his wife, Rose Ferentino Grimes. He and his wife are the proud parents of six children: Jacqueline Robbins and husband Thomas, Murrieta, Calif.; Joseph Grimes and wife Dawn, Drums; Maurice Ferentino and wife Ann, Pittsburgh; Jude Ferentino, Jenkins Township; Jason Ferentino and wife Tiffany, Duryea; and Jarrett Ferentino, Esq. and wife Dr. Nicole Ferentino, Laflin. He is the proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren.
