Hamden Man to Lead New Haven's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Hamden resident Kevin A. Smith will officially be named Grand Marshal of the 2012 New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade at the Parade Ball March 3 at Yale Commons.

Smith will lead the 56th annual parade in New Haven on Sunday, March 11.Born in Brooklyn New York, the son of the late Herbert & Diane (Hansen) Smith, his family relocated to New Haven in the early 1970’s where he grew up in the city’s East Rock neighborhood. During his childhood and into adulthood, he attended New Haven area schools including the former St. Stanislaus Parochial School on State Street, Wilbur Cross High School and Albertus Magnus College where he earned a degree in Business Administration.

At the young age of 14, Smith began working at the local family owned corner variety store on the corners of Pearl and Orange streets in New Haven until he turned 16, when he began his long career working for Stop & Shop Supermarket Co.

Through the years, he began to take on roles of increasing responsibility within the company, which brought him all over Connecticut, Long Island and New Jersey. Currently he is a Store Manager for the Stop & Shop location in New Rochelle, New York.

Smith has long been active in his community having served as president of the St. Stanislaus Church Holy Name Society and served on the Parochial School Board at the time the school merged with another city parochial school – St. Michael’s.

He re-organized the Catholic Youth Organization and in August of 1993, Smith led a group of young adults to the International World Youth Day in Denver, instituted by Pope John Paul II. 

More recently, Smith served two terms as President of the Knights of St. Patrick in New Haven from 2006 – 2008.  He joined the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee in 2002 and has held the offices of Chief of Staff, Parade Secretary, and in 2011 was the Parade Chairman. 

The New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade is Connecticut's largest single day spectator event. The day begins with a 10 a.m. Mass in the historic St. Mary’s Church on Hillhouse Avenue, where officers, past grand marshals, and Parade Committee members/supporters march in to the sound of bagpipes and colorful honor guard provided by the Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree.

Smith will lead the parade by cutting a green ribbon to start participants on the parade’s traditional route from Sherman Avenue down Chapel Street to Church Street, ending at Orange and Grove Streets. The parade starts at a new time this year, 1:30 p.m., and is the sixth oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the nation.

The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Executive Committee is sponsoring the ball at which Smith will be honored. Tickets can be purchased from the Ball Chairman Anne Hines at 203-488-4902.

Dunn’s Pub at 2345 Whitney Avenue in Hamden is running a shuttle bus to the parade. The shuttle costs $10 per person and includes breakfast. Children under 10 are free.

The shuttle will run from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. starting at the parking lot behind Dunn’s Pub and arriving at State & Grove streets in New Haven.  

The shuttle is a great alternative to parking downtown on a family friendly transport. The will be a bus monitor and no alcohol will be allowed on the bus. For reservations call Charles at 203-996-9712 or email thedunnspub@aol.com.

For more information about the parade, visit its website.