Fordham University has marched in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade since 1937 — aside from three years during World War II, 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — and this year was no exception.
Led by this year’s Grand Marshal, Robert J. McCann, the university was situated more than an hour into the parade lineup.
The event has traditionally featured an alumni brunch at various clubs in New York City, serving as a precursor to the main event. This year’s brunch was held at the Harvard Club.
“A couple years ago, it was actually [at the] Yale Club,” said Heather McWilliam, Marymount College ’88. “I think that the Yale Club’s a prettier room [but] this was a better brunch.”
Marymount College officially merged with Fordham in 2007, due to financial difficulties at the college. Marymount alumni were invited to the brunch as part of an expanded yet collective “Ramily.”
In the main room, large paintings adorned the walls, chandeliers hung from the tall ceiling and two violinists were serenading the attendees, fostering a classy ambience. The circular dining tables were set with caps decorated with Fordham’s new logo and sashes at every seat, which marchers were mandated to wear as they took part in the parade. Before entering this main dining room, guests filled their plates with catered food such as eggs Benedict, a variety of pastries and assorted meats.
Guests were ushered to their seats by current members of the Student Alumni Ambassadors program. One of those students, Risa Iwazaki, FCRH ’26, said she has seen the program grow during her time at Fordham since she witnessed its initial creation.
“Fordham alumni are always so kind and generous, and especially as a senior, being able to see my development as a student from freshman year being a part of the RAM line, I noticed that alumni are always very generous and willing to donate to a lot of different programs where we call them and see if their passions align with our current values at Fordham,” Iwazaki said.
During the brunch, President Tania Tetlow gave a six-minute speech on Irish-American history in NYC, its modern relevance and Fordham’s Jesuit values.
She began with a brief explanation of the history of Fordham’s relationship with Harvard, and then discussed the Irish potato famine of the 1850s and the influx of the Irish community into the city.
“Almost a million [Irish] streamed into New York,” Tetlow said. “Against all odds, the Catholic churches took care of those immigrants.”
She also spoke about current developments at Rose Hill, specifically the new science building being planned, along with the importance of Fordham in America, concluding with a toast to the United States and to “our beloved Fordham.”
Guests had 45 minutes to finish their plates and chat with fellow alumni sitting at their table. They then made their way around the block to West 45th Street, before turning onto Fifth Avenue.
Fordham’s section of nearly 500 people was a sea of white caps with the Fordham “F” and maroon sashes that were handed out beforehand. In the bitterly cold temperature, spirits were nevertheless high as the group was waiting to begin marching.
For the next two hours, the “Ramily” marched in the parade, surrounded by the echoing crowds’ cheers behind the barricades for six blocks.
The American, Irish, Fordham and Vatican City flags were billowing in the wind at the helm of the parade, with Tetlow wearing green Adidas Sambas as one of the leaders of Fordham’s march.
This nearly 90-year-old tradition is planned to take place yet again next year on St. Patrick’s Day.
