New Milford man inducted into Hall of Fame

Gerard J. Monaghan, of New Milford, has been inducted into the St. Bonaventure Univ. ROTC Hall of Fame.

He is a 1967 St. Bonaventure Univ. graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, has a Univ. of Conn. master’s degree in political science and did post-graduate work in public relations and marketing at the Univ. of South Carolina.

Monaghan was recognized for both his active duty – including service in Belgium and Vietnam – but especially for his Army Reserve service, spanning 28 years. His unusual assignments included:

• teaching journalism for eight summers with the Defense Information School
• serving on an Armed Forces Inaugural Committee
• researching the history of a major command
• acting as historian for the inactivation of another major command
• participating in a study to chart the future of Army Public Affairs
• serving in the Army war room for the invasions of Grenada and Panama
• serving as the Army Chief of Public Affairs representation to the Joint Staff during the Persian Gulf War
• editing the Defense Department’s report to the president and Congress on the Persian Gulf War.

He and his wife, Eileen, developed the professional association for the wedding industry, building it to 5,000 members in 32 countries in 25 years.

After his retirement from the Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 1995, Monaghan became more active in local activities, including serving on the Planning Commission and in various roles at St. Francis Xavier Church. He and Eileen have worked with several refugee families, including hosting an Afghan refugee in their home for 15 months.

They have four children and nine grandchildren.

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Contact: Jerry Monaghan – 860-946-7040 – ltcgjm@gmail.com