Fordham traces its Irish roots back to its founder, John Hughes, an Irish-born priest who became the first archbishop of New York and a confidant of President Abraham Lincoln. Known as “Dagger John,” Hughes envisioned the University as a launchpad for immigrants and their children.
Nearly two centuries later, those descendents—Fordham alumni, students, family, and friends—carry on that Irish-immigrant spirit, which was on full display on March 17 as hundreds of Rams marched in the 265th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“Every single person in this room represents the embodiment of Dagger John’s dreams and the Jesuits’ endless hard work,” Fordham President Tania Tetlow said at the University’s annual pre-parade brunch in Midtown Manhattan. “We are the glorious result of their ambition.”
Fordham Magazine caught up with a few Rams at the parade to find out what this iconic NYC tradition means to them.
Mary Boland ’79 and Patrick Early
Boland: “I’ve been coming since my mother started dragging me. I’m New York born and raised, so it’s just part of the rhythm. It reminds me of my family. I’m first-generation, so it reminds me of my parents, and it reminds me of my cousins back home in Ireland because they’re all watching now that they can stream it and everything.”
Early: “I joined the NYPD in 1982, so I either marched or worked it for years. Marching in the parade was one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I’m happy to march with Fordham.”
Patrick Jordan ’02
Jordan: “It’s my 15th year. It’s just a great day, a lot of camaraderie. To be walking along Fifth Avenue, with the crowds along the sides, is very energizing. It’s a great way to celebrate being Irish and the Irish culture of New York City, especially walking by St. Patrick’s Cathedral. And being able to celebrate with a university founded by Irish Americans is a lot of fun.”
Samantha Estrada-Bonacci ’17 MSW and Joseph Bonacci
Estrada-Bonacci: “This is my first time marching in the parade—I’ve never marched in any parade before and it was my alma mater, so why not? I’m a New Yorker, I’m from Harlem, so it’s nice to represent. And my husband’s also part Irish and we have twins that are part Irish, so it’s nice to just celebrate on their behalf.”
Rob Howley ’89 and John Howley
Rob: This is our ninth parade. John was in eighth grade the first time and we were getting him socialized to going to school in New York. For us, it’s been the Fordham alumni along the way—every year we meet different people and then marching with Father McShane for his last year was really neat.
John: I run Gaeltacht NYC, an organization for the Irish language, so I do a lot of Irish events, and this is the most fun because you get to be around everyone at once. Everyone comes together, so it’s the most communal experience that the diaspora has every year. It’s always fun to just march with people from all different walks of life, and I especially like seeing all the people representing each Irish county.
The O’Leary–Mills–Sotiryadis Family
Suzanne: We’re all cousins, and this our first time. Mary’s at the law school and she said we need to march.
Mary: I don’t know what my schedule is going to be like next year and then I’ll be working, so I wanted to check it off the bucket list while I still could. And I figured if we had enough interest, everyone else in our family would want to join.
Suzanne: They’re all jealous! We’re in the O’Leary family group chat right now, and they’re all jealous because they’re all working. We’re all New Yorkers, and Dad went to Fordham as well, so we’re marching for him, God rest him. When I think Fordham, I think Irish.
Mary: It’s just really nice they do something so big like this for all the Fordham students and alums and greater community. It’s a great networking opportunity, too.
See more St. Patrick’s Day photos.
