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Date: 3/1/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Attorney and Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton is this year’s Springfield Parade Marshal for the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 19.
“It is a tremendous honor to be acknowledged in this way,” Fenton said. “Being the marshal is important to me personally because of my family’s heritage. My grandfather, who was born in Ireland, was a big booster for Irish culture and I have many childhood memories going to this parade and other events leading up to it in March.” He continued, “I’m really excited to be a part of the parade this year as a marshal. I’m looking forward to seeing friends, family and neighbors from all over the region as we celebrate Irish heritage.”
Fenton grew up in Hungry Hill, an Irish neighborhood in Springfield. When he thinks about what it means to be Irish, Fenton said he pictures his grandfather Pete Fenton who immigrated to the United States with nothing to his name, but just a hope of having a path for an easier life for his children than the one he had.
“There’s a lot of people in the Irish community who would identify with the story of Pete Fenton. Someone who came here, worked hard, taught his children to get educated, be kind and love your family,” Fenton said. “To me that is what it means to be Irish. To emulate the qualities that I saw in my grandfather and so many others that were like my grandfather who came to the Greater Springfield area from Ireland that were all family-oriented, hardworking people who made tremendous sacrifices, all in the interest of having a better life for their children and grandchildren.”
Fenton said he is immensely proud of the sacrifices that were made and feels an obligation to contribute to society and the Irish community in a way that honors them.
He still lives in the Hungry Hill neighborhood and is in his 14th year on the Springfield City Council. During Fenton’s tenure, the council has invested in his district with a new senior center, new and improved public parks throughout, a new public safety annex and jobs through the expansion of the health care and manufacturing sectors — from the Baystate Hospital of the Future on one end of the district, to the CRRC Rail Manufacturing Facility, and many others.
Fenton is a practicing attorney and partner at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.
He is a graduate of Western New England University School of Law where he served as a member of the Law Review and earned his Master of Business Administration. Currently, Fenton is an adjunct faculty member at Western New England Law where he teaches Corporate Finance at night.
Fenton told Reminder Publishing he cares about this community, neighborhood and city. Being on the council has been an opportunity for him to give back and help forge a prosperous future for the community he loves, he said.
Kerri F. Sullivan, the president of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee said, “Michael is an excellent choice for parade marshal. He represents not only the Irish community of Springfield but the entire community of Springfield.” She went on to say, “Michael has made many contributions to the city and has helped move it in the right direction and restoring pride in the city. He has worked very hard to preserve the rich history of the neighborhood while inviting new residents and traditions. When you think Springfield, you think Mike Fenton. I am very excited to have him lead our contingent down the streets of Holyoke.”
Fenton said he wants to continue to serve his community in Springfield and will always find a way to do that in a meaningful way, and he intends to do that on the City Council hopefully for many years to come.
In terms of his law practice, Fenton said he continues to represent clients in all sorts of business transactions, with a focus on business organizations, commercial real estate and estate planning.
“The most rewarding part of being the parade marshal is getting to be the person looked to tell the story of Irish heritage in this St. Patrick’s Day season,” Fenton said. “It’s an honor and a privilege. I’m thrilled and excited to be doing this.”