SPRINGFIELD, MA - The 2018 Springfield Parade Marshal and Award Winners were revealed at an official press conference on Sunday, December 3rd at the John Boyle O'Reilly Club. The 2018 Springfield Parade Marshall is Nancy Lefebvre. The Parade Marshal is someone who has contributed greatly to the Irish community of Springfield. The Springfield Parade Marshal will lead the Springfield continent in the 2018 Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on Sunday, March 18, 2018.
Nancy is a resident of Chicopee, MA but was born and raised in the Hungry Hill section of Springfield. She attended Our Lady of Hope Church and graduated from Ursuline Academy. She has been a member of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee for over 25 years and served as Committee Chairperson for six years. During her tenure, she started the very successful spaghetti supper fundraiser held every September. Nancy is a longtime member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club and a member of the Catholic Woman’s Club of Springfield.
The Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee also announced the following award winners:
The 2018 John & Agnes Burke Award winner is Caroline Kelly. This award is presented in memory of John and Agnes Burke for outstanding service to the Irish community of the City of Springfield.
Caroline was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland until she moved to Springfield MA as a teenager. As an adult, Caroline experienced the loss of family members to cancer and decided to take action. She joined forces with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life by forming a relay team that consisted of family and friends. Under her leadership, this team became a fundraising powerhouse. Caroline joined the board and went on to become the event chairperson for the Greater Springfield Relay for a cumulative term of almost 10 years. In addition to her work for the ACS, she is the mother of 3 and she is the volunteer and event coordinator at the Thomas J. Connor Animal Shelter.
The 2018 Paul G. Caron Award winner is Matt Keating. This award is presented each year in memory of the founder of the Springfield Colleen Contest to a past or present parade committee member who has made an outstanding contribution to the committee.
Matt was born and raised in the Hungry Hill section of Springfield and currently lives in Monson. He is a longtime member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club where he serves as the club’s manager and has been very active in the club’s events for the last seven years. Matt works very closely with the Springfield Parade Committee scheduling our events at the club and making sure the banquet hall is arranged accordingly and we have bartenders when requested.
The 2018 Mary B. Troy Appreciation Award winner is Rick Quackenbush and Lower Pioneer Valley Career & Technical Center. This award is presented in memory of Mary Brigid Troy to a person or business that has given outstanding service to the committee.
Rick was a previously member of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee. Rick is a Facilities Management teacher at the Lower Pioneer Valley Career & Technical Center. For six years, he facilitated along with the Lower Pioneer Valley Career & Technical Center staff and student body, the building of our award winning floats. This included using the horticultural and graphics design classes. The auto shop class also helped fix and update our trailer that holds our float.
About:
The Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to promoting and celebrating Irish heritage in the Greater Springfield and surrounding areas. Founded in 1962 by a small group of Irishmen, to honor the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, and to improve, develop and foster the capabilities of all persons who are of Irish descent, to promote Irish heritage in the City of Springfield, culturally and socially to the best of our ability.
Our committee nominates the Springfield Parade Marshall to lead the Springfield Contingent of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade. We also nominate the recipients of the John and Agnes Burke Award, the Paul G. Caron Award and the Mary B. Troy Appreciation Award.
The committee is responsible for selecting the Springfield Colleen and Court Members who will represent the City of Springfield. Additionally, the Parade Committee awards annual scholarships in honor of Mossie and Kathleen Murphy. Learn more at www.springfieldstpatricksparade.org/