OUR 2026 PARADE HONOREES
GRAND MARSHAL
LIEUTENANT COLONEL
THOMAS EVANGELOS DANAS​
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Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Evangelos Danas served in the United States air force for nearly 42 years, in both an active and reserve capacity, and as a non-commissioned and commissioned officer. His long and rewarding career culminated in his selection as the 3rd deputy commander in the history of the 655th intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) group, subordinate to the 655th ISR Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Lt Col Danas directed seven squadrons, 602 personnel, seven distinct classic associate unit mission sets at locations throughout the nation. He executed air force reserve command’s complete ISR planning and operations strategy for squadrons attached to headquarters air force directorates, two air force commands and national security agency signals intelligence partners. He oversaw the United States air force’s only expeditionary force protection signals intelligence (sigint) threat analysis cell supporting three forward operating airbases. As executive agent for sensitive collection systems, he directed computer network exploitation missions and 24/7 real-time isr collection operations across the enterprise for operation enduring freedom (oef), combatant commands and joint task force intelligence requirements under the office of the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense. He managed $64 million in direct and $20.3 million in indirect expenses, 138,000 square feet of operations space and provided oversight on seven air force weapons and sensitive collection systems valued at over $400 million dollars. He served during a range of major military conflicts, primarily under operations enduring freedom and Iraqi freedom. Lt Col Danas received his undergraduate degree from the new school and graduate degree from Syracuse University. He retired from the department of the army at west point. His previous employers include: New York State county of Onondaga, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, nine mile point nuclear station and Lockheed Martin (ge aerospace). Lt Col Danas is retired from both military and civilian employment. He is married to Demetra (Anayannis) Danas and is currently serving as the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) district 6 veterans director (since August 2024). He is also a member of the reserve officer's association, the American Legion and the Army and Navy union​
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Man of the Year
​​Robert Bishop
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Robert (“Bob”) Bishop is a lifelong resident of Queens who lives in Little Neck with his wife, Janet. Their children attended local grammar schools and participated in the local soccer, swimming, sailing and archery programs. Bob served as an active volunteer with the Parade for over twenty years, the last ten of which (until 2013) were in an active managerial capacity. Since then, he has often volunteered as a Parade photographer.
Bob is a member of the consulting firm Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno LLC and a Partner of its affiliated law firm, Pitta LLP. The firms represent a significant number of labor organizations, not-for-profits and businesses. Bob manages the firms' Albany offices and represents the firm’s clients in connection with all legislative, administrative agency and government relations matters before the New York State Legislature, Attorney General’s Office, New York State Comptroller, Governor’s Office and all other executive agencies, as well as the executive and legislative branches of New York City government.
Mr. Bishop began his legal profession as an attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County and later served as assistant legislative representative of the Mayor of the City of New York. Prior to joining Pitta LLP as one of the original partners, he served of counsel to Pryor Cashman Sherman & Flynn LLP and Herrick Feinstein LLP. He previously served as partner at Gibney, Anthony & Flaherty LLP and Shea & Gould.
Mr. Bishop is a graduate of Fordham Prep, College and Law School. He is a member of the Bar of the State of New York and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts ofNew York. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Council and the Queens County Bar Association. He serves on the Boards of the Queens County Farm Museum and the Flushing YMCA.
Woman of the Year
Maura Wrynn​
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Maura Wrynn grew up on the grounds of the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, where her father managed the club and her mother worked in the accounting office. As a teenager, she served as a Talbert Girl during the US Open, one of a select few chosen to escort the world's greatest players onto Center Court. It was on those same grounds that she met the love of her life, Jim, and seven years later they celebrated their wedding reception right where it all began at the WSTC, on the Grandstand Court.
Maura earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College and joined the NYC Parks Department as a Park Enforcement Ranger. She became the first person ever, man or woman, to serve as a Mounted PEP Officer in the department. Years later, when her youngest child started school, Maura returned to school herself, earning her master’s degree in education. She spent 14 years teaching kindergarten in South Jamaica, Queens, while raising three children of her own. She went on to serve as a Senior Account Executive at Enright Court Reporting and Transcription.
Maura’s greatest blessings are her children. Her daughter Kathleen is the Global Head of Digital Assets at Invesco, her son James is a Managing Director at Needham & Co, and her son Kevin is a Marine Underwriter at AIG. She has two beloved daughters-in-law, Allane and Liz, and two grandsons, five-year-old James and baby Charlie, just one month old. Maura is also blessed with three brothers by birth and five brothers by marriage and seven sister-laws, 16 nephews, 4 nieces, 6 great nephews, 4 great nieces and every family has a dog. Holidays and special events are always boisterous and special because of the large gatherings.
Maura has competed in 20 triathlons, including many alongside her daughter, and enjoys tennis, pickleball, and swimming. She has also coached volleyball and taught swimming over the years.
Maura, along with her mother-in-law Nell, gives her time to charitable work and her church, through serving on the Board for Hearts in the Community and the Ladies of Charity at St. John's University, volunteering at Saint Kevin's Food Pantry, and serving as a Eucharistic Minister. When she is not traveling with her husband Jim, Maura likes to be involved with the community she has grown to love in the past 26 years. She serves as a Trustee of the Little Neck Douglaston Historical Society, chairs the beautification committee of the Douglaston Garden Club, and co-chairs the theater program at the Douglaston Woman’s Club.
If you ask Maura where her heart truly is, she will tell you it is with her family, church and community.
Community Service Award
Maria DiChiara
Bio
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Maria was born in Brooklyn to parents of Italian descent, raised within a large loving family and educated in the Catholic School system. She became a resident of Whitestone, Queens in 1972.
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Her professional career began in Midtown Manhattan in 1964 at William Esty Advertising, at that time one of the industry’s top ten Ad Agencies. Working in Media and Research on major accounts such as Colgate Palmolive, Union Carbide, and the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., her love of advertising grew. In 1972, she moved to Elser & Aucone, Inc., a niche agency specializing in financial advertising and sales promotion, serving institutions based in the tri-state area. At E&A , she was promoted to Vice President and became a Board Member of the Financial Advertising and Marketing Association of New York State eventually becoming FAMA President in 1984.
After retiring in 2012, she became involved in the Douglaston Little Neck Community by becoming a member of the Douglaston Garden Club. She was asked to join the DGC Board in 2017 and today she still serves as Recording Secretary. Enjoying her participation in the Community, she joined the Women’s Club of Douglaston, became a member of their Executive Board and has served as WCD President since 2023.
Maria is committed to the Douglaston Little Neck Community. She works closely with members of both the Garden Club and the Women’s Club focusing on the philanthropic, educational and intellectual goals of both organizations. Local charities supporting women and children in need being her main focus.
With a full schedule, she still manages to devote time to her love of cooking, baking and most of all entertaining and spending time with family, friends and club members.
Though not a member of the military herself, she is proud to be a member of a patriotic family who served our country well. Beginning with WW2, her father, brother, uncles, and many cousins all proudly served. Fortunately, her family has been blessed as they all made it home safely. Veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice hold a special place in her heart.
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