Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, along with Mayoral Aide and 2019 Springfield Colleen Rose McCaffrey, kicked off this season’s St. Patrick’s Day by attending the annual Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee Parade Marshall’s Reception at the John Boyle O’Reilly Club on Sunday, March 2nd at 2:00 p.m. Mayor Sarno brought greetings and present mayoral citations to this year’s Parade Marshall, along with the Springfield Colleens and all the award honorees. Music by the band Irish Thunder was provided.
Also, in attendance was, City Council President Michael Fenton, City Councilor Jose Delgado, State Senator Adam Gomez, State Senator Jacob Oliveira, State Representative Brian Ashe, State Representative Orlando Ramos, Bruce Adams representing State Representative Angelo Puppolo, and Eliana Guetierrez representing State Representative Carlos Gonzalez.
Mayor Sarno states, “For the month of March, Mayor ‘O’Sarno’ will proudly celebrate our St. Patrick’s Day festivities with our Irish community. I want to thank our Springfield St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for keeping our city’s Irish heritage and traditions strong. Irish-Americans have truly enriched our city of Springfield, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and our nation. Congratulations to Parade Marshal Kathy Tobin, each of this year’s award winners, our Springfield Colleen Ayslin Dziedzic and her court.”
Mayor Sarno continued, “Shout out to Springfield’s Putnam High School’s Carpentry Department, under the leadership of Mr. David Elia, Mr. David Stevens, and Mr. Jerry Stordeur on winning the 2025 Mary B. Troy award. With the continued collaboration between the carpentry students and the Parade Committee, our Springfield is represented well at the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Their past floats have won awards and we are all looking forward to seeing what the float will be and look like this year as we proudly march together in Holyoke on March 23rd. In addition to the Parade Marshal’s reception this weekend and the parade in March, I am also looking forward to kicking off all of the events leading up to St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th with Mass at Sacred Heart Church, the raising of the Irish flag at City Hall, and a special Irish Step Dance performance by the Black Rose Academy at our Springfield Union Station.”
The 2025 Parade Marshall is Kathy Tobin Martin, former news anchor, who currently serves as Baystate’s Annual Fund Director and serves on the Board for Spirit of Springfield. It was awarded to her because she is distinguished in her profession and has greatly contributed to the Irish community, and our Springfield community as a whole.
The 2025 John and Agnes Burke Award winner is Mary Lou Bednarz, which is in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Irish people of the City of Springfield.
The recipient of the 2025 Paul G. Caron Award is Dianne Sullivan Caron, presented to a past or present committee member who has contributed to the Greater Springfield Community.
The 2025 Mary B. Troy award winners are Mr. David Elia, Mr. David Stevens, Mr. Jerry Stordeur, and the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical School’s Carpentry Department. The Mary B. Troy Award is given to a person or business that is not a member of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee that has given outstanding service to the committee. The award honors the late Mary Brigid Troy, who was a longtime member of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee and contributed many hours of her time selflessly to the committee. The Carpentry Department at Putnam was awarded second prize in the Irish Theme at the 2023 Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade and has helped to build the float that the Springfield Colleen and her Court ride on during the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the past few years.
Learn more about the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee on their website: https://www.springfieldstpatricksparade.org/
