BRIDGEPORT—David and Ann Marie Curtin, of Fairfield, the great-grandchildren of Irish immigrants, are serving as Grand Marshals for the 2018 Greater Bridgeport St. Patrick’s Day Parade set for Friday, March 16, 12:00 pm in downtown Bridgeport.
St. Patrick’s Day observance will formally begin when the Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, celebrates Mass at 8:00 am at St. Augustine Cathedral.
Catholic school students from Bridgeport and surrounding towns will also march in parade and carry schools banners.
David and Ann Marie Curtin are daily communicants at St. Pius X church in Fairfield, where Ann Marie is both a Eucharistic minister and lector.
Both were born and raised in Syracuse, N.Y., and moved in 1980 to Connecticut, where they raised their five children: Meghean, Paul, Dave, Dan and Neil. They are the proud grandparents of 17 grandchildren.
“Ann Marie and I will walk this year—as we have for the last 20 years—in particular remembrance of our great-grandparents, Michael Curtin, who emigrated in 1834, and Thomas McMahon, who came in 1864,” said David Curtin.
Mr. Curtin is a retired Verizon executive. Ann Marie is a retired special education teacher in the Fairfield Public School system.
“We’ll be walking for all those who came both before and since. On this coming St. Patrick’s Day we should remember that we’re all immigrants,” he said.
The Curtins are members of the Gaelic American Club and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, John F Kennedy Division. David and Ann Marie are on the board of the Fr. John Conlisk Scholarship Committee, founded by their close friends Kevin and Mary Beth Conlisk, of Fairfield. The committee provides a scholarship for an Irish student to attend Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business to study for their master degree.
Schools in include Assumption, Fairfield; Catholic Academy of Bridgeport; Holy Trinity Catholic Academy, Shelton; Kolbe Cathedral High School, Bridgeport, Saint Catherine Academy, Fairfield; St. Catherine of Siena School, Trumbull; St. James School, Stratford; St. Joseph High School, Trumbull; St. Mark School, Stratford; St. Theresa School, Trumbull; St. Thomas Aquinas School, Fairfield.
St. Patrick’s Day Festivities, Bridgeport:
8:00 am Mass at Saint Augustine Cathedral
9:15 am Flag raising at City Hall
10:00 am *Grand Marshal’s Breakfast, Grand Ballroom, Bridgeport Holiday Inn
12:00 pm Parade Kick-off with 2018 Grand Marshals, Dave and Anne Marie Curtin
1:30 pm *Post Parade Luncheon and Awards Ceremony, Grand Ballroom, Bridgeport Holiday Inn
*Reservation and payment details will be available soon: stpatricksdaybridgeport.com
David and Ann Marie Curtin pictured above
Credit: Connecticut Post
