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02/06/2017 11:00 PMClifford Wall Lynch, Jr announced as the 2017 New Haven Parade Grand Marshal !
Clifford Wall Lynch, Jr. is a proud New Haven County native; he was born at St. Raphael’s Hospital to Clifford and Nancy Fortune Lynch. He was raised in Woodbridge and currently resides there with his wife, Shannon. He is an alumnus of Amity Regional High School, Quinnipiac University and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service.
Cliff traces his Irish roots to the village of Passage East in County Waterford on his mother’s side and to County Cork on that of his Father. His love for his Irish heritage runs deep, as do his childhood memories of the New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade. He vividly remembers watching from the corner of Orchard and Chapel streets as a kid with his two sisters, Kara and Kristine. They cheered on their father as he marched with the Connecticut State Police Honor Guard and their grandfathers with the New Haven Fire Department.
Cliff has made community involvement an important part of his life. He joined the Parade Committee in 2006 while a member of the Executive Board of the Irish American Community Center. He is a member and Past President of the New Haven Gaelic Football & Hurling Club, and a member of the Knights of St. Patrick, New Haven Elks Lodge 25, the Athol Eagles Club, and Porcini International. He has been co-chair of the Shamrock Open for several years along with Jim McGovern and Patrick Smith and helped to resurrect the New Haven Bed Race in 2015.
Cliff is a dedicated Quinnipiac Bobcat hockey season ticket holder and supports the Quinnipiac University through his alumni association. You will find him cheering on the Bobcats at most home games and faithfully supports the team in their travels as well.
Cliff is currently a Funeral Director with the Iovanne Funeral Home, located in the Wooster Square section of New Haven where he has been employed for 12 years. The Iovanne Funeral Home has generously supported the parade and Cliff’s hard work and dedication to promote and preserve Irish culture and traditions within the Greater New Haven community.
At the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Ball, Cliff will be honored and receive his official Grand Marshal sash. He will wear it on March 12th and for years to come. On parade day Cliff will be accompanied on the parade route by his wife Shannon, sister Kara Hammond, and nephews Cody and Brett Hammond who will serve as his Grand Marshal aides. This year Cliff will march down Chapel Street before turning onto Michael McCann Boulevard!
The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:30PM on Sunday, March 12th ,2017