Emerald Society Honors Parkland Mayor ‘Irish Mother of the Year’ at Annual Gala

by Sharon Aron Baron February 23, 2020

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Emerald Society Honors Christine Hunschofsky

Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2019.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

The Emerald Society of Fort Lauderdale will be holding its 70th Annual Gala, and Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky will be honored as “Irish Mother of the Year.”

Named by their committee, Hunschofsky was nominated based on her leadership in the city and the way she represented herself after the Parkland shooting, said President Pat Hanrahan.

But not any lad or lass can be nominated.

“You have to have Irish blood in you,” said Hanrahan. “That’s the key issue.”

Hunschofsky said she was honored to be recognized by the Emerald Society, and it was especially wonderful given her Irish background.

Her father was born in England, spent his early years growing up in Ireland during WWII, where his roots hail from County Mayo Ireland in the province of Connacht.

Hunschofsky in County Mayo Ireland in 1971 at her great uncle Luke’s home.

Hunschofsky visited Ireland several times in her life; however, the last time was as a 13-year-old, where she visited family, Dublin and Northern Ireland.

Her favorite memory was the Ireland West Airport in Knock, where they were able to drive on the runway because it was under construction.

Since that time, she has meant to return, but unfortunately, with her busy schedule, it has never worked out.

As a child in Boston, Hunschofsky took Irish step-dancing for six to seven years. Her father was the president of the Eire Society and belonged to the Irish Cultural Center, where she spent a lot of time.

For almost 25 years, her husband has been wearing an Irish wedding ring called a Claddagh that she gave to him, which represents love, loyalty, and friendship. They have two sons in college: one is a senior majoring in economics, and the other is a freshman who is a math major.

These days, the most “Irish” thing Hunschofsky does, is celebrating St Patrick’s Day at Runyon’s in Coral Springs, where she loves their shepherd’s pie.

Other nominees for the Emerald Society’s 70th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Gala include Irish Person of the Year, the Honorable Tom Lynch; Honorary Irish Person of the Year Vincent “Vinnie” Viola; Humanitarians of the Year Dan O’Brien and Terence Michael Glynn; and Community Hero, Don Deyo.

Each year, the Emerald Society raises money for scholarships, and the winners are announced at their Gala. Purchase tickets for the event on Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. held at the Signature Grand in Davie.