Past Grand Marshals
Jim Dinnan in center standing next to 1976 Grand Marshal John O'Donovan
Garnd Marshals, past and present
Past Grand Marshals on Howe St
2001-03-11 Officers and GMs

GRAND MARSHALS

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Michael dePascale

2027 Grand Marshal

Michael dePascale was born in West Islip, New York, and is the eldest of three children. His father's family traces its roots to County Cork, Ireland, and Mike proudly carries that heritage forward. He now resides in Milford.

A firm believer in giving back to the community, Mike has dedicated countless hours to volunteering and civic involvement throughout his adult life. A member of the Knights of St. Patrick since 2012, he has served the organization in several leadership roles, including two terms as President, and currently serves as Membership Chairman. He joined the Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee in 2016 and has contributed to its success in a variety of capacities, including Corporate Sponsorship Chairman, where he helped strengthen relationships with longtime supporters and develop new partnerships. He has also provided valuable technology expertise to support parade operations, communications, and vendor management.

Professionally, Mike has spent more than 20 years helping organizations navigate growth, innovation, and change through technology. His leadership experience includes roles at MassMutual and Yale University, as well as serving as Vice President of Technology Solutions for Q-Bridge, a New Haven startup he helped launch. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Mike also founded The Corporate System, a technology consulting company dedicated to helping businesses align technology solutions with strategic goals. Today, he leads investment technology teams supporting critical financial systems and strategic business initiatives. Colleagues value his collaborative approach, practical leadership style, and ability to turn complex challenges into successful outcomes.

Mike is a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Trumbull and the University of Connecticut, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. A proud Husky through and through, he remains an enthusiastic supporter of UConn basketball and can often be found cheering on the team while reminding anyone who will listen that Connecticut is the true Basketball Capital of the World.

As proud as he is of his professional accomplishments and service to the community, Mike's greatest source of happiness is his family. Time spent with his son, Michael Jr., daughter-in-law Rosa, and granddaughter Evangeline is time well spent. In fact, of all the titles he has earned throughout his life and career, his favorite remains the one Evangeline gave him: "Gramps."

Mike is also a passionate advocate for another Connecticut institution: New Haven pizza. Whether discussing college basketball, Irish heritage, or the merits of a great apizza, he enjoys the traditions and community spirit that make Greater New Haven such a special place to call home.

Mike is honored to serve as the 2027 Grand Marshal of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade and is grateful for the support of his family, friends, fellow volunteers, and the Irish community that has become such an important part of his life.

Mike IMG_0058
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YEAR

GRAND MARSHAL

2026 Fiona Stewart Jimenez
2025 Cathleen Patricia Steinau
2024 Bernadette Canning
2023 Joanne Conlan
2020-2022 Seamus Bohan
2019 Courtney Lundgren Connors
2018 Patrick J. Smith
2017 Clifford W. Lynch, Jr.
2016 Colleen A.M.B. Hines
2015 Timothy F. Gallogly
2014 Kelly Canning Ruickoldt
2013 Joseph M. Lynch
2012 Kevin A. Smith
2011 Walter J. Nester, Jr.
2010 James J. McGovern
2009 Brian G. Enright
2008 Bernadette Smyth LaFrance
2007 Mary Lyng Malenda
2006 John E. Cannon
2005 Coleman W. Walsh, Jr.
2004 Eileen Sullivan Donadio
2003 Dorinda Keenan Borer
2002 Kevin J. Smith
2001 John J. Doyle
2000 Thomas E. Gallagher

YEAR

GRAND MARSHAL

1999 Michael McCann
1998 Mary Gallagher Carter
1997 Edward O’Neill
1996 Katie O’Keefe Gerhard
1995 William F. McCabe
1994 William T. O’Brien
1993 William M. Hackett
1992 Laurence McGivney
1991 Michael Bohan
1990 Thomas F. Slater
1989 Kathleen A. Reilly
1988 Cmdr. John R. O’Connor
1987 Robert C. Shanley
1986 Patrick J. Hanlon
1985 James H. Sullivan
1984 Finbarr Moynihan
1983 Capt. Walter J. Walsh
1982 Michael V. Lynch
1981 James C. Bohan
1980 Hon. Charles D. Gill
1979 Robert J. Eagan

YEAR

GRAND MARSHAL

1978 James J. Dinnan
1977 Stephen Madigan
1976 John C. O’Donovan
1975 Edward P. McMahon
1974 Raymond J. Eagan
1973 Wiliam J. Heffernan
1972 Joseph T. Carr
1971 William T. O’Connell
1970 Col. James T. Flemming
1969 Edward A. Taylor
1968 Ray Ward, Jr.
1967 Chief Francis J. Sweeney
1966 James C. Bowe
1965 Howard J. Sullivan
1964 Chief Francis V. McManus
1963 Col. Joseph H. Flemming
1962
1961 John M. Golden
1960 Chief Thomas J. Collins
1959 Majr Gen. James M. Quinn
1958 Hon. James S. Shanley
1957 Patrick J. Goode
1956 William J. Clancy
Hon. Mayor Richard C. Lee
Hon. William F. Gallogly
Hon William F. Gallogly Jr.
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DUTIES OF THE GRAND MARSHAL

 

The Grand Marshal shall:A)  Attend all meetings of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and as many standing committee meetings as possible;

B)  Lead the St. Patrick’s Day Parade;

C)  Review and sign the Parade orders;

D)  Assist the Chairperson on all matters pertaining to the Parade;

E)  Chair the General Committee meetings in the absence of the Chairperson;

F)  Meet with the present officers, along with the Executive Committee Chairperson, prior to the first General Committee meeting to explain the year’s plan;

G)  Be responsible for collecting minutes of each meeting, any correspondence, and all public relations material pertaining to the Parade. All this shall be kept in a binder during the year, and at the first executive meeting attended it shall be turned over to the Executive members;

H)  Be directly involved in all aspects of fundraising to support the parade.

 

Interested in joining the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee?
Contact our Chairperson at chairperson@stpatricksdayparade.org.

DONATE

The Associated Irish Societies is an IRS recognized non-profit with 501(c) (3) status. All donations are tax-deductible. Donations are payable to the Associated Irish Societies.

ABOUT

The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Connecticut’s largest single day spectator event attracting more than 325,000 people to the streets New Haven each year. The Parade is a longstanding tradition in the New Haven community, and the members of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee volunteer to ensure the tradition continues.

GET IN TOUCH

Address
P.O. Box 9078
New Haven, CT 06532

© 2026 Associated Irish Societies, Inc.