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Pat Troy, Alexandria legend, dies at 76

Catholic Herald Staff Report

Bernadette and Pat Troy are grand marshalls for the 2018 Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 18. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg watches the parade along with Grand Marshals Pat and Bernadette Troy. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Pat Troy speaks with St. Patrick, played by Jim McLaughlin, at the Irish Hooley at Basilica of St. Mary School gym March 10. ASHLEIGH KASSOCK | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Pat Troy, known as an Alexandria legend, has died. He was
76.

Troy and his wife, Bernadette, were this year’s grand
marshals of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Alexandria. He led the effort to
begin the St. Patrick’s Day Parade 37 years ago.

Troy was a longtime parishioner of the Basilica of St. Mary
in Alexandria. 

Troy was born July 12, 1941, in Oxford, England, to Michael and
Kathleen Troy. His parents moved to England from their village of Kilcormac, in
County Offaly, Ireland, soon after their marriage. They returned to Kilcormac a
few months after Pat’s birth.

He worked as a butler at Birr Castle for five years, where
he met an American tourist who offered to sponsor him for his move to America. 

He immigrated to the United States in August 1961, landing
first in Detroit. He and his wife, Bernadette, took over the Irish Walk Import Store in Alexandria in 1974. 

Troy appeared on the game show “What’s My Line?” in 1963 and
won a prize of $250.  

He opened the Ireland’s Own Bar and Restaurant in 1980, where he hosted the diocesan Theology on Tap series for young adults for many years.
President Ronald Reagan visited the bar March 17, 1988. 

In 2010, Troy was honored with a Living Legends of Alexandria award.
 

Troy published his autobiography, I Have a Story to Tell, in
2011, describing his life as a butler, businessman, Irish-American and a
Catholic.

He was involved in the Old Town Association, and served on
the board of governors with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and the
Alexandria Visitor Center. 

He and Bernadette were granted an audience with Pope Francis
at the Vatican Sept. 11, 2013.  

He received the Irish Spirit Award at the first-ever Irish
Heritage Night, before the Nationals vs. Diamondbacks game at Nationals Park in
Washington, May 2, 2017. 

He is survived by Bernadette and his children, Patrick and Kathleen,
and other family members. 

A viewing and vigil will be held April 6 at Demaine Funeral
Home, 520 S. Washington St., 6-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be
offered April 7 at the Basilica of St. Mary, 310 S. Royal St., Alexandria, at
11 a.m., with burial to follow at St. Mary Cemetery.

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