Field To Be Dedicated To Memory Of 9/11 1st Responder

SHRUB OAK, NY — The Lakeland Central School District and the Shrub Oak Athletic Club have teamed up to name the athletic field at the Lakeland Central Administration Building in honor of Michael Houlahan for his invaluable contributions to the community.

A dedication ceremony will be held Saturday.

According to a spokeswoman for the district, Houlahan, who died March 25, 2020, was a member of the New York City Police Department and a 9/11 first responder. He was also active in the Lakeland community, working as a security aide at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School where he was loved by students and staff alike.

Houlahan brightened the lives of many students in the school community through his generosity, donating funds to purchase new basketball backboards and a scoreboard for the Thomas Jefferson gymnasium and for scholarships for Lakeland High School seniors. He spent countless hours as a member of the Shrub Oak Athletic Club, where he served as the director of girls softball and a coach.

To honor his memory, the athletic field behind the Central Administration Building in Shrub Oak will be named the Detective Michael A. Houlahan Field. The dedication and the unveiling of a sign bearing the name will take place at the field at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Members of the community are invited to attend, the school district said.