Grand Marshal Mystic Irish Parade Foundation

2010 Grand Marshal, Jessica Morrissey

Grand Marshal Every parade needs a Grand Marshal, and the Mystic Irish Parade is no exception! We have had some tremendously distinguished individuals serving that honored position in the past, and The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation is proud to announce that Jessica Morrissey has been selected as the 2010 Grand Marshal.

Jessica Morrissey, a native of West Hartford, has been living and contributing to the communities of Southeastern Connecticut for the past 20 years. Many organizations in our community have benefited from Jessica’s tireless energy and work. Results of her contributions and involvement can be seen in numerous ways across the region.

The Society of Saint Edmund on Enders Island provides spiritual and emotional healing to 12-step recovering individuals on their journey back to health and overall well being. Jessica’s fundraising efforts help these programs to exist and to flourish, benefiting people well beyond Southeastern Connecticut. The new chapel on Enders Island received generous seed money from Jessica’s parents as a loving memorial to the daughter they lost at a very young age to a tragic drowning. Jessica continues to promote fundraising efforts for the Society of Saint Edmund.

She is also actively involved with many other charitable organizations that serve our community, including MASH (Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitality) providing housing and shelter to those in temporary need, The Leukemia Society’s annual Leukemia Cup Regatta, the Town of Stonington’s EMT and Fire Department, and many other organizations.

An exemplary act of her selflessness was her past donation of a diamond necklace to the Stonington High school Crew Team. Her donation helped the team raise the $30,000 it needed to buy a brand new Vespoli crew shell to train and race in. The boat is appropriately named after her maternal grandfather, Daniel Hayes Murphy, who was the manager of the crew team at the University of Wisconsin.

Jessica inherited her sense of giving back from her parents Gerard (Rod) and Marjorie Morrissey whose lifelong selfless acts of generosity can still be witnessed throughout the Hartford area. Her father, for many years, assisted The Hartford Foundation for Giving that came to the aid of numerous shelters, soup kitchens and other charitable organizations. Also, a fully paid four year perpetual college scholarship to Providence College in her father’s name is given every year to a deserving graduate from one of the three Hartford Public High Schools.

The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation was one of Rod and Marjorie Morrissey’s dearest endeavors. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this unique organization they were involved with since its inception. Their premier training facility in Bloomfield is aptly named for Gerard and Marjorie Morrissey. The Police Department of Ledyard received a Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation German Shepherd, Ringo, to join their forces and Jessica is known as Stonington police department’s “Godmother” to K-9 officer Fritz!

So, on Parade Day, Sunday March 21st 2010, Irish Setters make room! The German Shepherds will be making a strong appearance at the Mystic Irish Parade. They will join everyone in Southeastern Connecticut who will come to show their appreciation to Jessica Morrissey who carries on her parents’ legacy of philanthropy to those in need, and support to those striving to better themselves by lending a helping hand. The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation is tremendously honored by Jessica Morrissey’s participation in our 7th Annual Mystic Irish Parade as Grand Marshal.

Past Grand Marshals

2009 Grand Marshal Edward Murphy	2008 Grand Marshal John Hewes	2007 Grand Marshal John Kelley	2006 Grand Marshal Maggie Taber

2005 Grand Marshal James O'Boyle	2004 Grand Marshal John Lowe