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Chicopee St. Patrick Parade Committee announces winners

CHICOPEE - The Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee has selected John O'Connor as Parade Marshal for the 2007 St. Patrick's Day Parade. O'Connor will lead the Chicopee contingent.

O'Connor was educated at St. Patrick's grammar school and attended high school at Chicopee High School and Deerfield Academy. He graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Economics. O'Connor is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and was recently elected as Vice President of U.S. Electrical Supplies, the new owner of Hampden/Zimmerman Electric Supply. He has been married for 37 years and has two children and one grandson.



Analia and Bernie St. George have been selected as the 2007 Atkinson Award winners. The George and Buddy Atkinson Award is named after the founders of the Chicopee Parade Committee and is given to non-committee members who have volunteered to assist the committee through personal involvement or fundraising.

The St. Georges are the owners of the Bridal Corner and Ron's Formal Wear. They purchased the business in September of 2003. They continued the tradition of donating the gowns used by the Colleen and her court as well as the tuxedos for escorts and award winners.

Analia St. George is a native of Peniche, Portugal. She moved with her parents to Ludlow as a child and now lives in Chicopee. Bernie St. George is a lifelong resident and graduated from Chicopee Comprehensive High School. He received a bachelors and masters degree from Western New England College. Analia and Bernie have been married for 13 years and have three children and two granddaughters.



Joe Couturier has been selected as the Jack Woods Award winner. The Jack Woods Award is named after E. Jack Woods, a longtime Parade Committee member who is currently an honorary member. The award recognizes a Chicopee Parade Committee member who has served 10 or more years on the committee and deserves recognition for his/her dedication.

Couturier was born and raised in Ware and moved to Chicopee 30 years ago. Couturier is currently a project coordinator of store design for Big Y Foods, where he has worked for more than 36 years. He is on the Board of Directors for the Chicopee Tiger Athletic Club and has coached boys and girls soccer and basketball teams for over 15 years. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Chicopee Moose Family. He has been a committee member for over 10 years and has served as Chairman of the Float Committee for the last three years.



Justin Ritter has been selected as the Bill Meara Award winner. The Bill Meara Award is presented from time to time to a member or members of the community who have performed an act of selfless courage, bravery, or heroism.

Ritter is a junior nursing student attending Elms College. On the night of Oct. 28, 2006, he observed a car accident on Interstate 91 and stopped to help out the crash victims. Ritter was informed from the other two crash victims that a female was missing from the car, Amy Millett. After making sure the others were not hurt, he searched for and found Millett unconscious along the highway. He performed first aid on her until the paramedics arrived on the scene. Millett was admitted to Baystate Hospital, where Ritter came back to check on her. Ritter started a fundraiser at Elms College to help Millett pay for college and medical expenses. He raised over $600 dollars. Ritter continues to keep close contact with Millett and has been very supportive of her.