William "Bill" and Karen Cardinal Named Grand Marshal for Next Year's Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade

William “Bill” and Karen Cardinal are famous on Aquidneck Island for pancakes as the owners of the IHOP in Middletown.

They’re also known as a big time supporter of dozens of local causes, including the Annual Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Thier remarkable support of the parade has earned their business the coveted “Big Daddy” award for being the top sponsor of the parade each year in terms of money, advertising, donations and more. And they’ve won it every year since 2001.

Next year, the husband and wife team will share a new prestigious title for the 60th Annual Newport Saint Patrick’s Day Parade: Grand Marshal.

The Newport Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee on Monday announced that the Cardinals would serve as Grand Marshal for the 2016 celebration.

The committee also announced that the parade will be dedicated in honor of Patrick Curran Loftus, who died unexpectedly in October.

Loftus was a lifelong Newport resident, a proud 5th Warder and was proud of his Irish heritages.

Known by his friends as PLof, Loftus was a talented artist and was a member of the Aincent Order of Hibernians.

He was graduated from Rogers High School in 2002.