The 2025 Award Winners

Parade Marshall

Kathy Tobian Martin

John & Agnes Burke Award

Mary Bednarz

Paul G. Caron Award

Dianne Sullivan Caron

Mary B. Troy Award

David Elia, David Stevens, & Jerry Stordeur on behalf of Springfield Putnam High School Carpentry Department.

Parade Marshall
Kathy Tobian Martin

A lifelong storyteller, dedicated community leader, and proud Irish-American, Kathy Tobin Martin has spent over three decades making an impact in western Massachusetts. She first became a trusted name as an award-winning journalist at WGGB-TV, where she pioneered health and medical reporting, delivered the first live broadcast in station history, and covered major national and international events, including presidential campaigns and Pope John Paul II’s first U.S. visit. As the region’s first female News Director, she led the newsroom for a decade before transitioning to public relations and community affairs, where she helped launch the local FOX affiliate.

Kathy’s passion for service led her to focus on social impact, working to address homelessness as the first Development Director at Friends of the Homeless, Inc., and later combating food insecurity at The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Since 2016, she has served as a leader at Baystate Health Foundation, where she drives fundraising efforts to support one of the region’s largest healthcare systems. Her work brought her full circle when she reconnected with Rays of Hope, a breast cancer initiative she first documented as a journalist.

Her leadership was instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she chronicled Baystate Health’s response in Voices from the Pandemic and played a vital role in keeping employees, donors, and the community connected. She spearheaded efforts to secure resources for frontline workers, coordinated meal donations, and helped facilitate the region’s vaccination campaign.

Beyond her professional achievements, Kathy’s deep-rooted Irish heritage has been a guiding force in her life. Raised with a strong appreciation for Irish culture, she has long been involved in western Massachusetts’ Irish-American community, celebrating the traditions, history, and spirit of her ancestors. She takes immense pride in serving as the Parade Marshal for the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade, honoring both her family’s legacy and the contributions of Irish immigrants who helped shape the region.

Kathy has been recognized with an honorary Doctor of Science in Business Administration from Nichols College and a Lifetime Achievement Award from her alma mater, Emerson College.

At her core, Kathy is most proud of her family. She is the devoted mother of three sons—Joe, Ben, and Sam—who, along with their wives, have blessed her with three cherished granddaughters. All were born at Baystate Medical Center, further deepening her connection to the health system she serves.

John & Agnes Burke Award
Mary Bednarz

Mary is a lifelong Springfield resident, graduate of Springfield Public schools, holds an undergraduate Degree from Elms College and a Master’s Degree from American International College (AIC).

She retired from Verizon Communications and resides in Springfield with her daughter Mary Kate.

Mary is an active Life Member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club and a member of the Irish Cultural Center of Western Massachusetts.

She was a member of the original Irish Cultural Center Board founded at Elms College in 1999 and has been recognized by the Irish Cultural Center and Elms College in a Proclamation received from the Mayor of West Springfield for her contribution to the Irish Fulbright Program in 2022.

She received the Irish Language Summer Award granted to a US Citizen who is learning the Irish Language in an international educational institution to study the language in an Irish speaking region of Ireland, during the summer of 2016.

She attends weekly Irish Language classes at Elms College to support the academic and cultural exchange programs between the US and Irish Fulbright Commissions. Each year a Post Graduate student from Ireland receives the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant award to teach and promote the Irish Language in an international educational institution as part of the Fulbright program.

In addition, she voluntarily works with the Fulbright teaching assistant outside of the college to broaden and enrich their exposure to the greater local Irish community.

Paul G. Caron Award
Dianne Sullivan Caron

ianne Sullivan Caron is a proud native of East Forest Park, Springfield, Massachusetts, with deep roots in both her community and her Irish heritage. The daughter of Jerry and Betty Sullivan, her family traces its lineage to County Kerry and County Cork, Ireland—a heritage that has shaped her lifelong commitment to service, tradition, and giving back. She resides in Wilbraham with her husband, John Caron, and is the devoted mother of two daughters, MaryKate and Nikki.

A graduate of Cathedral High School, where she met her husband and Springfield Technical Community College, Dianne has remained deeply connected to the Springfield community. She developed Tools for Schools, a program that gave students the tools they needed to succeed. Dianne has long been an advocate for local causes, from teaching CCD at Holy Cross to supporting organizations such as the Open Pantry, Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives, The Cancer House of Hope Wig & Accessory Boutique, Habitat for Humanity, Western Mass Toys for Tots, and the GySgt Thomas J. Sullivan Remembrance Run, honoring her late brother. Over the years, she has actively participated in numerous fundraisers and community efforts, always ready to lend her time and support to those in need.

Dianne’s involvement with the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee began in 2016 when her brother, Thomas J. Sullivan, was posthumously named Parade Marshal. Honoring his legacy, the Sullivan family proudly represented him that year, and the experience inspired her to become an active committee member. Since then, she has contributed in many ways, including assisting with developing the Springfield Tartan, organizing fundraising efforts, and volunteering at events to support the committee’s mission.

In 2020, Dianne took on a new challenge, opening Hazel The Salon, a full-service salon in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Despite launching during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hazel The Salon has flourished, not just as a business but as a reflection of her values—community, empowerment, and connection. Through Hazel, she continues to support local organizations and foster meaningful relationships within the greater Springfield area.

Her passion for fostering community and tradition extends to hosting the Colleen Tea annually since 2022, a meaningful event celebrating young women and their Irish heritage. Whether through her work with the Parade Committee, her business, or her involvement in charitable initiatives, Dianne embodies the spirit of generosity, family, and Irish pride that proudly define our Springfield Irish-American community.

Mary B. Troy Award
David Elia, David Stevens, & Jerry Stordeur on behalf of Springfield Putnam High School Carpentry Department.

This year’s Mary B. Troy Award honors three dedicated educators—David Elia, David Stevens, and Jerry Stordeur—along with the talented students of the Putnam Vocational Academy Carpentry Department. Through their combined experience, passion for the trades, and commitment to mentorship, these individuals have shaped the next generation of skilled carpenters while making a lasting impact on the Springfield community.

David Elia

A Connecticut native with deep ties to Massachusetts, David Elia has spent over 20 years in the construction trades, specializing in residential carpentry before transitioning into teaching at Putnam Vocational Academy in 2017. Working with Springfield’s youth has been one of the most rewarding aspects of his career, allowing him to share his expertise while helping students develop hands-on skills. Under his guidance, students have worked on meaningful community projects, including building homes for Habitat for Humanity and restoring historic buildings in Forest Park. He is passionate about exposing his students to the wide range of opportunities in carpentry, ensuring they leave with both technical knowledge and professional confidence.

David Stevens

With over 20 years of teaching experience at Putnam, David Stevens brings an extensive background in carpentry, including nine years working in residential construction in Manhattan. Coming from a family of educators—his father taught at Buckingham and Classical in Springfield—David found his calling in teaching, combining his love for the trade with a dedication to preparing students for real-world success. He takes great pride in watching his students’ work come to life, saying, “The students are eager to learn, and we often build things in the school or out in the community that make us all proud.” His leadership has helped shape a program that not only teaches carpentry but also instills a strong work ethic and sense of accomplishment in every student.

Jerry Stordeur

For the past eight years, Jerry Stordeur has been teaching 9th and 10th grade carpentry students at Putnam Vocational Academy, helping them develop both technical skills and the professional mindset needed for success in the workplace. His path to teaching was built on decades of hands-on experience, beginning at age 17 as a carpenter in New York City and Long Island, followed by work in Wyoming’s oil fields, Ithaca, New York, and California, where he started his own home improvement company with four full-time employees. After moving to Northampton, he continued his carpentry business for seven years before embracing the opportunity to teach at Putnam. Jerry describes it as “one of the most rewarding opportunities in my life”, as he has watched students build confidence and go on to successful careers in the trades.

Their Impact on the Parade & the Community

The relationship between these educators, their students, and the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee has been one of collaboration, tradition, and craftsmanship. Under their leadership, Putnam students have played a key role in constructing the award-winning Colleen floats, earning praise for their intricate details and high-quality craftsmanship. Their dedication has strengthened Springfield’s Irish-American traditions, while also providing students with invaluable hands-on experience.

Beyond the parade, their work reaches deep into the community—whether through building homes, restoring historic structures, or mentoring students who will become the next generation of skilled tradespeople. Their impact is seen not just in the structures they build, but in the confidence, skills, and career paths they help shape for their students.

It is an honor to recognize David Elia, David Stevens, and Jerry Stordeur as this year’s Mary B. Troy Award recipients, celebrating their dedication to education, community service, and the Springfield Irish-American tradition.