Grand Marshal Bobby Palisi
Bobby (Robert) Palisi was born in St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie in 1955 and is a lifelong resident of the City of Beacon. He attended grade school at St. Joachim’s and went on to graduate from Beacon High School in 1973.
Bobby started his career working for Shaw Motors (currently Healey) with this father when he got out of St. Joachim’s in 1969. From 1975 to 1977 Bobby worked for Ward’s Auto Body until he joined the crew at Secor Auto Body from 1977 to 1979.
In 1979, he started his family business, Palisi Auto Body & Auto Glass on Main Street in Beacon, which in 1984, moved to a newly constructed state-of-the-art auto body shop on West Main Street. He has been performing high-quality vehicle repairs for over 40 years at that same location. Bobby continues to proudly own and operate this business today.
Bobby is also a partner in Fulton Avenue Realty Restoration Company, which over the last 28 years, has done a multitude of building renovations and constructed several new houses in and around the City of Beacon.
In his early years, Bobby was the drummer with the band “Spiral” that provided fun, local entertainment for over 32 years.
For over 26 years and to this day, Bobby’s passion truly lies in his active role with Beacon Girls Softball. This organization’s goal is to build character using the sport of softball as a tool to improve girl’s self-esteem and confidence.
Beacon Girls Softball (BGS) educates 4-18 year-old girls on the skills and rules of softball. It imparts life lessons that include working as a team, spirit of giving, camaraderie and good sportsmanship. He is pivotal in running both the Recreation League, and Travel League known as “Beacon Extreme.” Bobby works endlessly on raising funds, recruiting team members, running practices, and organizing tournaments each season. This includes an annual fund raising tournament whose proceeds are dedicated to a local family in need.
In addition to this, Bobby has been a volunteer member of Beacon’s Board of Assessment Review for 10 years. This board meets once a year to hear residents’ challenges to tax assessments and requires training from the New York Real Property Services.
Bobby is a 50-year member of Beacon’s Mase Hook & Ladder Fire Company, 37-year member of the Beacon Elk's Club Lodge #1493, and over 30-year member of the Beacon Knights of Columbus Chapter #445.
Bobby’s loyalty and dedication to the Girls Softball organization and endless volunteer hours he donates makes him one of Beacon’s brightest.