PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Sheriff Thomas Bowler will be honored as Hillcrest Educational Center's Irish Person of the Year.

 

Hillcrest will present the award at the 17th annual Robert "Bees" Prendergast St. Patrick's Celebration on March 15 at the Country Club of Pittsfield. 

 

Bowler was a Pittsfield police officer for 24 years, serving in the detective bureau and in the drug unit, before his 2010 election as Sherriff. Recent winners of the Irish Person of the Year award were Fairview Hospital President Eugene Dellea, former Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, former state Sen. Benjamin Downing, and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal.

 

Hillcrest will also be honoring Pittsfield Police Officer Darren Derby with the Judge John A. Barry Community Service Award for his community outreach efforts.

 

The even includes hors d'oeuvres, a buffet, door prizes, a silent auction and music from the Brodie Mountain Boys. Tickets are $50 and the proceeds go toward the renovation of the former St. Mark's School, which Hillcrest purchased for students with disabilities.

 

"This traditional event captures the lively spirit of Hillcrest's founding board member, Bees Prendergast, and continues his legacy by bringing our longtime and new supporters together for an evening. It's also a tremendous opportunity to honor those who have shown outstanding leadership in Berkshire County with the Prendergast and Judge Barry Awards," Hillcrest President Gerard Burke said. 

 

"Sheriff Thomas Bowler and Pittsfield Police Officer Darren Derby are emblematic of their drive and work ethic. Our agency’s defining commitment of providing frontline and critical therapeutic care to students and their families could not be met without our communities’ support — we recognize and celebrate this dedication."