Thomas A. Lambert is the current President of the New York State Ancient Order of Hibernians, having been elected at the New York State AOH/LAOH Convention in July 2019. He has been a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians since 1986. Tom is currently the Vice President of Thomas W. Carroll AOH Division 1 in Buffalo, Past President of the same Division, and was Past President of Kevin Barry AOH Division 3 in Kings Park, New York before he and his family moved to Buffalo in 2007. In 2019 Tom was named the Knights of Equity Irishman of the Year, having been an active member of the Knights of Equity, Court 5 since 2015. He was also a 2010 recipient of the Hibernian of the Year award. Tom also proudly served on the Tara Court Major Degree Team before moving to Buffalo.
A member of the Erie County Bar Association, the Suffolk County Bar Association and the Injured Workers Bar Association, Tom is also the managing partner for the Buffalo office of Fusco, Brandenstein & Rada, PC, a law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers. Tom was elected to two terms as a Trustee for the Village of the Branch on Long Island and was a candidate for the New York State Senate in 2002. He also served as Chairman of the Smithtown Democratic Committee for almost seven years. Tom was honored as Smithtown’s Democrat of the year in 2008.
Tom is a very proud Irishman. He has been married to Andrea Ludeman Lambert for thirty-six years. He is also the proud father of three; Ryan, Brenna and Ciara and is the loving Grandpa to Jayden and Brielle. Tom and his family are parishioners at St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church in North Buffalo, where his grandson attends St. Mark’s School.
Promoting Buffalo and the preserving the Irish Culture have been important parts of Tom’s life since moving to Western New York. His current focus as President of the NYS AOH is directed to promoting efforts to secure Freedom for All Ireland. Tom was co-chairman of the 2017 New York State AOH/LAOH Convention, which took place in Buffalo. He also continues to promote both the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Equity as both organizations work to preserve our common Irish Heritage.
National Directors Report: Jan/Feb/Mar 2025
We are rapidly approaching the “High Holy Days,” which are the days surrounding the St. Patrick’s Day season. As always, St. Patrick’s Day will be the time when we show our pride as descendants of those who trace their lineage back to the Island of Saints and Scholars. While our public participation in events associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations can help tremendously with recruitment to our noble Order, the opposite may result if our behavior is less than appropriate. Please remember that we descend from the Island of Saints and Scholars!
I have been in contact with Brother James McClay in Maine. Brother McClay is president of the only active AOH Division in Maine. Another AOH Division will be formed shortly. In the meantime, Brother McClay is the de facto Maine State President. He is doing his absolute best to grow his Division, and he was hoping for an in-person meeting soon. This is no easy feat in the Maine winter! He had also recently attended a Christmas Party at the Irish Consulate. Brothers like James McClay will help our Order to continue to grow!
I advised all State Presidents and Vice Presidents within the New England states and New York that a State Presidents’ Leadership Conference would be held via Zoom on December 4, 2024. The conference was well attended. Communication and engagement within the organization were stressed. The AOH National Board will continue to make every effort to continue communication and engagement with all levels of our organization.
I also look forward to continuing collaboration with my fellow Directors: Ryan Curry, Ed Dougherty, Keith Reynolds, Patrick Ryan and Rory Schulte. There is a lot of energy within this group. We make an effective team!
If any AOH Brother needs to reach me, to discuss any AOH issue, I can be reached at Tomlambert12@aol.com or on my cell phone at 716-796-7687.
Yours in Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity.