Librarian from Ireland named parade marshal

Published: March 28, 2009

By Maryanne Meyerriecks
Fort Smith Correspondent

Karen Schwartz

Sister Mary Sarto Gaffney, RSM, waves to parade-goers Saturday, March 14 from the back seat of a convertible during the St. Patrick Day parade in Fort Smith. Sister Sarto, a native of Ireland, was chosen to be the grand marshal of the parade for her contributions to Immaculate Conception School and the community. Currently she serves as the school librarian.

Karen Schwartz

FORT SMITH -- On Saturday, March 14 the grand marshal of Fort Smith's St. Patrick's Day Parade rode down Garrison Avenue seated on the rumble seat of a shiny red Chrysler.

Sister Mary Sarto Gaffney, RSM, left her hometown, Arigna, County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1960 to enter the Sisters of Mercy in St. Louis, Mo. After teaching in Mississippi, she came to Immaculate Conception Parish in 1979. She was the part-time librarian at Immaculate Conception and Trinity Junior High schools until 1994. She has worked full-time at Immaculate Conception School for the past 15 years.

"Sister Mary Sarto is the proverbial 'pot of gold' at the end of the rainbow," Sharon Blentlinger, Immaculate Conception principal, said. "I am so pleased that the Fort Smith community recognizes her contributions to not only our school but our city."

Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker praised Sister Sarto.

"She represents everything that's wonderful about the Irish. Her spirit of enthusiasm, dedication and hard work makes her a wonderful educator and grand marshal," he said.

Sister Sarto wore a huge smile during the parade. "It's a great honor for our school. It's a great honor, period," she said.

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