The GAC Executive Committee Election Results
2025 Executive Committee President – Tom Harding
I have previously served on the GAC Executive Committee as Treasurer and Financial Secretary. As Treasurer, I was a member of the financial team that improved the accounting and budgeting process that enabled the club to be more financially stable. As Financial Secretary, I was a member of the committee that navigated the club through COVID. We were able to keep the kitchen open and retain and compensate all employees. I installed credit card processing right before the pandemic shutdown. This allowed the club to accept pandemic friendly contactless payments. Since leaving the Executive Committee at the end of 2020, I have served as a member of the budget committee responsible for the club’s annual budget. I enjoy volunteering at the club when needed and look forward to serving and cleaning up at the senior lunch every month.
Before retiring to become a high school Track and Field coach. I was the Chief Operating Officer of a $1 billion foundation focused on improving global health. Prior to that, I was a senior financial executive with over 25 years of experience working for major corporations.
Currently an avid runner, I participated in the US Olympic Trials for the marathon and ran professionally in a prior life.
Pat Carolan -2025 Executive Committee Vice President
Over the past 30 years I have served on the Executive Committee a number of times and look forward to returning. My goals are a debt free Club, resumption of a deferred maintenance program begun 8 years ago to address some of the maintenance issues mentioned at the October meeting, greater participation of the membership in the activities and committees of the Club ( besides dining) and continued support for the successful sports programs connected with the GAC.
The following Executive Committee positions have bee filled uncontested. The following individuals will serve on The 2025 Executive Committee:
Financial Secretary – Bill Lenahan
I am honored to be nominated for the GAC Financial Secretary Executive Committee position.
If selected, my desire is to successfully serve our club as Tom Egan has done so successfully in prior years. I look forward to assisting and reporting to the Executive Committee and our membership regarding the oversight and management of our club’s finances.
At the GAC: Currently, 2025 Budget Committee Chairperson. An Irish Great Hunger Museum-Fairfield member. A team member volunteer for Monday Night Football and Tuesday BBQ’s. In previous years, a volunteer at the Senior Lunch.
In the Community: Fairfield Senior Advocates -State Director (past 5 years) advocating to both the CT General Assembly and Fairfield local government on senior issues. In that role, I’m actively involved with the Fairfield Senior Center. Recently, elected to the Advisory Council of Southwest CT Agency on Aging (SWCAA) for a two year term.
Business Experience: Initial career a financial analyst; thereafter, held senior management positions with major international companies and serving the final 14 corporate years as president of an international company. Post corporate; managing director/owner of two international start-up LLC’s. [Retired]
Education: MBA Finance; BS Marketing/Economics both from St. John’s University, NY.
Family Background: Maternal grandfather, Patrick Burke, emigrated to NYC from Clonmel, Tipperary in the 1900’s. I was born and raised on Long Island, NY
I reside in Fairfield with my wife, Susan; we are both GAC members for 9 years.
My son, Sean (Prep grad) is a GAC member. My daughter, Kathryn (Laurelton grad) resides in the Boston area, and when in Fairfield visits the GAC as a guest.
Treasurer – Philip Joseph Dwyer
Member of the GAC since 1991. He recently chaired the Business Directory sub-committee during John Brannelley’s term as President of the GAC. He is an active member of the GAC Genealogy Club. Phil is the retired President/CEO of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA with 12 branches and a $29M operating budget. He has served on the Fairfield Board of Education from 2011 – 2019, and elected as Chair of the BOE for six of the 8 years of service. Phil has been active at First Church Congregational.
Recording Secretary – Pru O’Brien
Sergeant at Arms – Sheila Tesei
Director 3 Years – Catherine Austin
Catherine grew up in Bridgeport, CT and resides in Cheshire, CT with her husband Tom (nickname Neil). She has 2 grown sons and daughters-in-law and 3 grandchildren. Catherine attended the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall, Fairfield University and Quinnipiac University School of Law.
Catherine has been an attorney for over 40 years. She is retired from the State of Connecticut, Division of Criminal Justice. She worked as a Prosecutor for 33 years. The last 7 years of her career was as a supervisor. She supervised 14 attorneys, an investigative staff and clerical staff.
The focus of her work was the crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence. While with the Division of Criminal Justice, she was a member of the Diversity Committee as well as ESI (Early Screening Intervention) program. Her work in that area was featured in the book “To Prosecute” edited by Emily LaGratta in 2020.
She is a member of the Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish in Cheshire, CT. She serves as a Eucharistic Minister in the parish. She taught CCD for 16 years to 8 th graders. Catherine’s family has always been a part of the G.A.C. community. Her father and brother were past presidents. In 1982, Catherine was City Clerk of the City of Bridgeport, CT. She was asked by then Mayor Leonard Paoletta to start a Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Bridgeport. She formed and chaired a Committee who then staged the first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the City of Bridgeport. She chaired the event for 3 years. She subsequently was honored as Grand Marshal of the parade together with her twin sister Maura O’Malley. Christopher, her son was selected as Mr. Shamrock for the parade in 2007.
Catherine currently serves on the By-Laws Committee of the Gaelic American Club.
Director 2 Years – Tracy James
Tracy James has been a member of the GAC for over 25 years. She’s been involved with the Clan na Gael Players and multiple club events throughout the years. She is thrilled and looking forward to being involved in the Gaelic American
Club once again. A little about Tracy: She is an accomplished actress, director, musician, playwright and screenwriter with over 35 years of experience and still working in the business.
She has a BA in Theater, has studied in New York
throughout the years, and is currently taking classes on screenwriting &
production at NYU. She teaches at Choate Rosemary Hall for the Theater Arts
Institute program during the Summer and acting for ballet dancers at the
Connecticut Classic Ballet summer program and Woodbury Ballet Company. She
can be seen in episodes of the Netflix Marvel series, Daredevil, Iron Fist and Luke
Cage and a host of other Television shows. Her last play Forty Shades of Green
Tour Premiered in Ireland and was a huge success at the 2019 Fringe Festival in
Edinburgh, Scotland. She has released multiple CDs and her music can be heard
on Spotify. For more information visit www.tracyjamesmultiartist.com and follow
her on Instagram at trayjay8.
Director 1 Year – Bill Reda
