Tim Bohen
Profession and company: Sales professional at Genentech.
How do you celebrate your Irishness? I am a member of the Blackthorns, an Irish-American social club that celebrates our Irish heritage throughout the year. I also have a deep love for live traditional Irish music, especially at the Banshee Irish Pub. For several years, I was fortunate to be part of a literary group where we read James Joyce’s Ulysses and explored various other Irish writers and poets. Additionally, I served on the board of the Irish Classical Theatre Company, which helped to nurture my passion for Irish theater. I also take great pride in sharing my knowledge of Buffalo’s Irish community with audiences throughout Western New York.
Name a hero you admire and why? One of my heroes is my late grandfather, Dr. John McLaughlin. Raised in an orphanage for much of his youth, he overcame tremendous odds to put himself through Columbia Medical School. During World War II, he served with distinction as a surgeon with the Merrill’s Marauders in the jungles of Burma. After the war, he dedicated his life to caring for others, both as a beloved neighborhood doctor and through his work at the VA Hospital in Buffalo.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... I studied at a Catholic seminary for a little over a year.
Biography: I was born in Buffalo into an Irish-American family, with all my ancestors having emigrated from Ireland in the 19th century. I have worked as a sales professional for over thirty years. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Kimberly, and writing about the Irish experience in Buffalo. My first book, Against the Grain: The History of Buffalo’s First Ward, is in its eighth printing. My most recent book is Emerald Thread: The Irish in Buffalo. I have appeared in two PBS productions and on C-SPAN. My goal is to continue sharing the remarkable story of the Buffalo Irish for many years to come.
