Greenwich Hibernians Name St. Patrick's Parade Grand Marshal

Longtime Greenwich resident Brian O’Connor has been named Grand Marshal of the 41st annual Greenwich St. Patrick’s Parade that’s being planned by the Greenwich Hibernian Association.

O’Connor will be installed as grand marshal on Saturday evening, March 7, at the organization’s annual St. Patrick’s dinner dance. The parade will be held on Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m., with kick off at Greenwich Town Hall.

O’Connor, a 46-year Greenwich resident, was born and raised in New Haven, the oldest of four children of Thomas and Lois O’Connor whose ancestors hailed from County Kerry, Ireland. After attending grammar and high school in New Haven, O’Connor attended and received his bachelor’s degree from Providence College. He received his law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, O’Connor worked for a year as a law clerk to Connecticut Supreme Court Justice John R. Thim. From 1969 through 1983, O’Connor was an associate and then partner in the Greenwich law firm of Ivey, Barnum & O’Mara.

In 1983, O’Connor and five other attorneys formed the Stamford law firm of Diserio, Martin, O’Connor and Castiglioni. The firm has since grown to 23 attorneys with offices in Stamford, Greenwich and White Plains, NY.

O’Connor has been involved with numerous civic and charitable organizations for many years including The Wild Geese, an Irish American cultural organization of which he was a longtime board member and president; as a board member and chairman of the Stamford United Way; and as a board member of the Interfaith Council of Fairfield County. O’Connor currently serves as a board member of the Business Council of Fairfield County (Treasurer); Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation (Vice-President); Kolby Cathedral High School; and the American Israeli Friendship League. O’Connor and his wife, Maura have been members of the Greenwich Field Club for more than 30 years.

O’Connor has been married for 46 years to Maura (Flynn) O’Connor, a longtime reading specialist with the Greenwich public school system until her retirement 10 years ago. The couple has two daughters, Sarah Spinello who lives with her husband Nicholas in West Wood, MA and Deirdre Ballester who lives with her husband Mike and three sons, James, Conor and Ben in Stamford.

Contributed photos: Brian O’Connor; Parade route map.