ABOUT
The 41st Parade will take place on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
The Syracuse St Patrick’s Parade was founded by Nancy Duffy. It all began with a meeting at Coleman’s Pub and Nancy’s strong desire to bring her Irish heritage and culture to the streets of Syracuse. The Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade welcomes spring and celebrates the Irish-American heritage of Syracuse and everyone who makes up the vibrant community of Central New York.
PARADE OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
The Dedicated Volunteers Who Organize and Run Our ParadeHONORARY DIRECTORS
Sheila Shattuck*
Joseph O’Hara*
Rev. John Ahern*
Kathleen Kelly*
Michael Harrington
John F.X. Mannion
Richard Liddle
John Young
Congressman James Walsh
Kevin Reilly
Kristin Etoll
Richard Walsh
PARADE OFFICERS
Janet Higgins // President
Vince Christian // Vice President
Katie Cullen // Treasurer
G. Kevin Barrett // Secretary
Rev. John Ahern // Parade Chaplain
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Janet Burke
Laura Cahill
Vince Christian
Erin Cunia
Tom Dillon
Bridget Dunn
Ann Gallagher
Jeff Mercer
John Muldoon
PARADE DAY FESTIVITIES
John Muldoon // Parade Operations
Dennis St. Amour // Parade Operations
Michael Harrington // Parade Operations
G. Kevin Barrett // Parade Operations
Thomas Dillon // Parade Operations
Walt Bordett // Ham Operators
Jeff Mercer // Television Liaison
Janet Burke // VIPs
Mary Davis Doherty // Mass Co-Chair
“Miss Judy” // Reviewing Stands
Erin Cunia // Judge & Scoring // Participant Coordination
Jim “Curly” Cahill // Parade Photographer
Kathleen Murphy // Dinner Program/Book Ads
Ann Gallagher // Hotel After Party Entertainment
PARADE COMMITTEE
Erin Cunia // Website Maintenance
Bridget Dunn // Public Relations
Lauren Snyder // Social Media
Meghan Dillon and Colleen Mahoney // Fundraising
St. Patrick Hunger Project Ambassadors
Erin Hickey Greenwood
GRAND MARSHAL
DINNER RECEPTION
Laura Cahill // Chair
Katie Cullen
Ann Gallagher // Entertainment
HUNGER PROJECT
Vince Christian // Chair
“Miss Judy”
G. Kevin Barrett
Janet Burke
Tom Burke
Ann Gallagher
Michael Harrington
*Denotes Members (Deceased members in italics)
NANCY DUFFY
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
In Memory of Nancy Duffy December 22, 2006
Nancy Duffy, founder of the Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade, was also one of the most honored journalists in Central New York and an active community leader. It all began with a meeting at Coleman’s Pub and Nancy’s desire to bring her Irish heritage and culture to the streets of Syracuse. Nancy didn’t’t really have a clue as to how to make a parade work but Nancy had plenty of Irish spirit and no one could say “NO” to her! So there it all began – and here we are still growing stronger every year – because of Nancy. Nancy still is and always will be the heart of our parade.

Nancy Duffy marching in the parade. The people marching with Nancy are: Nancy’s sister, Barbara, Nancy’s dad, Nancy, Congressman Jim Hanley, Linda Cook & John Farrell.
Aside from founding the parade, did you know that in her real career as a TV journalist, she was the only reporter allowed to remain in the Wounded Knee encampment during the American Indian Movement takeover? Quite a feat for a young, woman reporter from Syracuse!
Nancy has been honored by the National Angel Awards for religious documentaries, the New York State Senate, American Women in Radio & TV, Post-Standard Woman of Achievement, Mayor’s Achievement Award, Syracuse Press Club Lifetime Achievement Award, Project Children Humanitarian Award, and many, many others.
A Watertown native, Nancy was a graduate of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic High School in Cortland and Marywood College in Scranton, PA. She launched her professional career as a newspaper reporter for the Cortland Standard after college, later joined the Syracuse Herald Journal. In 1967 she became the first female news broadcaster in Syracuse when she joined the staff of WHEN Radio & TV.

Nancy Duffy Lane Syracuse, NY
Nancy’s list of firsts is unsurpassed… First female reporter in a Syracuse University locker room… First woman named Press Secretary to the mayor of Syracuse… First Downtown Award of Excellence in the Media… First class of inductees named to the Syracuse Press Club’s Wall of Distinction… Organizer of the first Baseball Hall of Fame parade in 50 years at Cooperstown.
Nancy was a founder and devoted member of the Syracuse James Joyce Club of the CNY chapter of the Irish American Cultural Institute. She was a co-organizer of the “Save Our Symphony” campaign, and sat on the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra board for five years. She was associated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association as telethon co-host and volunteer for more than 20 years. She taught courses at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications and University College. She was involved in the Empire State Games, the Syracuse Rotary Club, and the Onondaga County Traffic Board.
An accomplished artist, Nancy’s portraits of Native American people and traditions have been shown in galleries and public spaces throughout the region. Despite all these accolades and awards, Nancy’s finest (and favorite) achievements were her sons, Matthew, an attorney, and Peter, a journalist and author, and two adorable grandchildren.
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Janet Higgins