Morris St. Patrick’s Day parade grand marshal steps down

MORRISTOWN John Hyland has resigned his position as grand marshal of the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day Parade because of an ongoing battle with cancer.

“Many of you may already know that John beat the challenge of AML, the most deadly form of Leukemia, back in 2010,” the Trustees for the St. Patrick's Day Parade said in a press release. “Although John has been cancer free for over four years, recently he was diagnosed with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML).”

The treatment for CMML will require chemotherapy on an outpatient basis, followed by a recovery period and then a bone marrow transplant, according to the release, which said that the disorder was caught in the early stages and Hyland’s doctors are optimistic he will have a full recovery.

“ It does mean that he will spend the next few months undergoing treatment,” the release said.

Born, raised, and still residing in Morristown, Hyland follows his mother, Kathleen, who held the title in 1998.

Hyland, a founder and managing director of Private Advisor Group on Madison Avenue in Morristown, has won the Community Leadership Award for his work with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He has raised over a million dollars for cancer research since he was diagnosed in 2010 with acute Leukemia.

A devoted supporter of the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Irish community, Hyland has been treasurer for the parade for more than a decade. He was also finance chairman in 1999 and 2000. His mother, Kathleen, was grand marshal of the parade in 1998.

Hyland, 47, is also an active runner, racing in the New York Marathon, and a triathlete who has completed the Ironman 11 times. He is married to Kristin, and they have three children, Kieran, Patric, and Kelsey, He was born, raised and still lives in Morristown.

Hyland’s mother was not only a previous grand marshal, but she also owns and operates Ginty’s Irish Gifts on DeHart Street in Morristown. His father was one of the founders and a past president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

The parade is scheduled for March 14. Last year’s parade, which was the 36th, attracted a crowd of more than 70,000.

“The Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade Trustees/Committees would like to wish John a speedy recovery and our prayers go out to John and his family,” the release said. “Understandably, John must focus his attention on his health, on-going treatments and his family. As a tribute to John, The Parade Trustees will be making a donation of $10,000.00 to the New Jersey Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”

No new grand marshal was immediately named.