Kristie Ann McCrone was born in Denville, NJ on November 17, 1969 to her father, Ken Duda and mother, Kathleen Flaherty.  Tracing her Irish roots from the Flaherty/Gallagher side to Galway in Ireland, Kristie was raised in Morris Plains and West Orange.  Graduating from West Orange High School in 1987, she attended Allegheny College, graduating with a BA in History and a minor in Environmental Studies.

 

She began her working career in the service industry as a cashier at a McDonald’s in Fort Myers, Florida and continued working through high school at a Barnes and Noble in West Orange and Newsweek in Livingston, NJ.  In the summer before college, Kristie began working with her father at The Star Tavern in Orange, NJ. This would begin her 40-year odyssey in the restaurant business.  All through college, she worked in The Sun Tavern restaurants in Union and Little Falls.  After graduation, Kristie went to work full time for her dad at The Sun Tavern in Roselle Park. This is where she learned all back and front house operations. She has spent the past 35 years putting those skills into practice.

 

Kristie feels it has been a great honor to work with the surrounding communities in Union County, supporting many local charities, sport clubs, theater productions and many schools.  She is especially proud of her relationship with the young population in Roselle Park, Cranford and the surrounding towns.  She has enjoyed mentoring and giving them pride in their jobs and encouraged them to continue their education and preferred careers.  In the past, she has been honored by The McNany Charitable Foundation, Union County Police and Fire Pipes and Drums, The Borough of Roselle Park and is an Honorary Silver Life Card Holder from Roselle Park PBA Local #27.  And in 2024, a Division in the Union County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade was named in Kristie and her husband, Andrew’s names.

 

In 1997, Kristie married Andrew McCrone, the love of her life.  Together they purchased The Sun Tavern in Roselle Park in March of 2011.  But Kristie is most proud of her three beautiful daughters: Skye, Hannah and Willow.  They have given her the greatest joy in life as she has watched them grow from little girls to three strong confident women.

 

In Kristie’s free time, she was an avid runner, participating in The NYC Marathon, Philadelphia Marathon and in honor of her father, The Marine Corps Marathon as well as The Reach The Beach Relay and Bear Mountain To Boston AIDS Ride.  These days her free time is spent on the beach and boardwalk with family and friends at their home in Avon-by-the-Sea.