Fiona Stewart Jimenez Named Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026 Grand Marshal

NEW HAVEN, CT—The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has named Fiona Stewart Jimenez as their 2026 Grand Marshal. Jimenez will lead this year’s parade down Chapel Street in New Haven on Sunday, March 15.

From the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee:

Jimenez was born in Meriden to parents originally from Dublin, Ireland. The youngest of four children, she now resides in West Hartford with her husband, Emanuel, and their two children, Tomás and Áine. She is a proud member of the New Haven Gaelic Football & Hurling Club.

From a young age, Fiona embraced her Irish heritage through music and dance. She danced for many years with the O’Keefe School of Irish Dance, where her passion for the arts began to flourish. That passion soon expanded to include piano, singing, and performing in musical theater productions. Today, Fiona continues to share her love of music as a cantor and choir member at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church.

After graduating from Maloney High School in 2007, Fiona earned a Bachelor of Science in Resource Economics from the University of Connecticut in 2011 with a concentration in Environmental Policy. While at UConn, she was a founding member of the Celtic American Cultural Society, later known as UConn Irish, and had the joy of dancing and singing in numerous performances. Fiona continued her education while working for the Connecticut Green Bank, earning a Master of Business Administration from UConn in 2018.

Rooted in the traditions of her Irish heritage, Fiona’s perspective has long been shaped by the values for which the Irish are known - faith, hospitality, storytelling, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the arts. These influences fostered a sense of connection that extends beyond borders and communities. Her experiences traveling to Ireland and studying abroad in Norway, along with time spent across Europe, Central America, Australia, and North America, further broadened her worldview and reinforced her belief in the power of human connection.

Throughout her travels, Fiona has remained grounded in her heritage, carrying with her a respect
for tradition and a genuine curiosity about others - qualities that continue to shape her leadership,
service, and commitment to building inclusive, vibrant communities.

For more than a decade, Fiona has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Greater New
Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Irish community it celebrates.

Her involvement began in 2013, when she was crowned Parade Queen. She later joined the Parade Committee, where she took on an expanding range of leadership roles. Fiona was instrumental in developing fundraising initiatives and, as chair of the social media and public relations team, significantly strengthened the parade’s online presence and community engagement. From 2017 to 2022, Fiona served as Broadcast Chair, one of her most impactful roles. She worked closely with the parade’s media partner, WTNH, coordinating parade coverage and creating “All Things Irish” content. Her responsibilities included generating story ideas, preparing interview subjects, liaising with the City of New Haven, supporting parade day production, and assisting with two in-studio “Celebrating Irish Heritage” television specials during the pandemic years.

Following the pandemic, the Executive Parade Committee created the role of Assistant Chief of
Staff to support the organization’s growing needs, and Fiona was installed in this position. As she
progressed through the leadership chairs, she gained invaluable experience in fundraising,
organizational leadership, and community building. Fiona is deeply proud of her service and grateful for the trust placed in her by the committee. She is honored to serve as the 2026 Grand Marshal, becoming only the 14th woman to hold this distinction since the inaugural New Haven St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1842.

Professionally, Fiona serves as a Senior Manager in Investments at the Connecticut Green Bank, where she manages lender relationships for the Smart-E residential loan program, while also supporting initiatives including the Solar Marketplace Assistance Program and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program. In addition, Fiona serves on the organization’s Safety Committee and helped establish the Women’s Resource Group and mentorship program. With the Green Bank’s support, Fiona completed a certificate in Women’s Executive Leadership from the Yale School of Management in 2024.

For Fiona, the parade has always been about people - family, friendship, and shared heritage. She
is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve a community that has shaped her life in so many
meaningful ways and is profoundly honored to celebrate Irish heritage alongside the volunteers,
families, and organizations who keep its traditions alive.

The Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade is Connecticut’s largest, free single day spectator
event attracting thousands of people to the streets of New Haven each year. The parade is a long-
standing tradition in the New Haven community, and the members of the Greater New Haven St.
Patrick's Day parade committee volunteers to ensure the tradition continues.

The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Associated Irish Societies is a 501(c)(3) organization.