Lillian Quinn Will Serve as Grand Marshal for the July 4th Parade| 02:29PM / Monday, June 29, 2015 | |
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Lillian Quinn will be the Grand Marshal for 2015 July 4th Parade, which will step off at 10 a.m. in downtown Pittsfield.
“Lil Quinn’s service to Pittsfield as an educator and mentor for nearly five decades has shaped countless lives and helped make our community a better place to live," Pittsfield Parade Committee President Peter Marchetti said. "We are honored to have Lil serving as the 2015 Pittsfield Parade Grand Marshal.”
Quinn retired after 48 years of teaching, 42 of those at St. Joseph Central High School. For 30 years, she taught ninth grade English, language and composition, chaired the English Department and served as a reading specialist for the high school. Quinn became the academic dean in 2003 and served as acting principal twice. She directed more than 25 Broadway musicals and revues at the high school and co-authored three musicals. Her last six Broadway musicals were performed at Barrington Mainstage. She designed “New Horizons” a study skills course which was offered to the public as a summer program at St. Joseph Central High School.
Quinn is a graduate of Pittsfield High School, Berkshire Business College and the University of Massachusetts, where she received a master’s degree in education and completed the doctoral program of studies. She is a former member of St. Mary, the Morning Star Church where she served as Director of CCD, President of the Rosary Society, Finance Committee and Parish Council. Quinn is a member of St Joseph Parish and volunteers for the CCD Program. Last year she received the Diocese of Springfield’s Lifetime Achievement Award and was recently inducted into the St. Joseph Central High School Hall of Fame.
The Pittsfield 4th of July Parade has an historic reputation dating back to 1824, when the procession consisted of Revolutionary War survivors, patriots, politicians, and horse-drawn carriages. The parade was held off and on by various citizen groups until 1947 when it was taken over by the Pittsfield Permanent Firemen's Association. Under the firemen, the parade grew in size and popularity but was discontinued in 1976. After 1977 with no parade, a small group of volunteer citizens obtained $2,000 seed money from the City of Pittsfield and held their first parade in 1978.
Over the years, this independent, nonprofit organization -- the Pittsfield 4th of July Parade Committee, Inc. -- has grown in size, spirit, and determination, and with it, the parade has grown in size, quality, and popularity. Visit the website at www.pittsfieldparade.com for more information or call at 413-447-7763.
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