PLAINS TWP. — The Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick President Joseph Long announces Chief James Jay Delaney will receive the W. Francis Swingle Award when the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick gather for its 104th annual St. Patrick’s Day Banquet Saturday, March 17.
Delaney was born in Avoca and is the son of James Jay Sr. and Dorothy Delaney. He is a graduate of St. John the Evangelist High School and Luzerne County Community College (Fire Science Technology). He’s also completed advanced course work at the National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, Maryland and the Center for Domestic Preparedness, Anniston, Alabama. He is also a certified paramedic.
Delaney has been employed by the City of Wilkes-Barre Fire Department since 1981, holding every rank in the department, including 13 years as fire chief. He leads a fire department with 78 full-time fire fighters and paramedics, and is also Wilkes-Barre’s Emergency Management Coordinator.
Chief Delaney has received the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award of Merit, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center Outstanding Provider of the Year and an award from former Mayor Tom McGroarty for saving the life of a city resident with AED technology.
In 2007, Governor Ed Rendell appointed Delaney to the Pennsylvania Game Commission Board of Commissioners, where he served an eight-year term, including board president in 2010. In 2016, Governor Tom Wolf appointed him to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation. He is also a member and trustee of the Upper Pittston Sportsmen Club.
Delaney’s professional memberships are: President – Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Fire Protection Association and the Luzerne County Community College EMS Program Advisory Board. He is also a sustaining member of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and Saint Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church.
Past professional memberships include Hughestown Hose Company #1, Eagle Hose Company #1, Pittston and the Greater Pittston Ambulance Association. In 1981, he was part of a coalition to bring Paramedic Advanced Life Support to Greater Pittston.
Delnaey resides in the Miners Mills section of Wilkes-Barre and is married to the former Valerie Sakaduski. They have three children, Sarah, Jamie and Megan, and seven grandchildren.
The Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Day Banquet will be held Saturday, March 17 at the Woodlands Inn and Resort on Route 315. Ticket prices are $80 per person and $50 for guests under the age of 21. Children’s banquet tickets are also available for guest under 12 for $25.
Tickets may be purchased from any active member of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick or at the Knights of Columbus on Main Street in Pittston every Thursday night until the night of the banquet and they must be purchased in advance.
