Brick Township, NJ - The Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee is proud to announce that we have chosen Dennis Filippone to serve as the Grand Marshal for this 27th Annual Celebration. Several individuals have made worthy recommendations to the search committee and after carefully reviewing each of them the search committee has chosen Dennis. This year’s Columbus Day Parade will be held on Sunday, October 7, 2018. The three-day Italian Festival begins on Friday, October 5, 2018.

"Every year we are faced with the difficult task of selecting one person from the many deserving candidates to serve as the ceremonial leader of our Parade and Italian Festival," said Screening Committee Co-Chair Phyllis Shindle. "After thoroughly reviewing and considering all the candidates this year, the screening committee felt that although several terrific nominations were submitted, Dennis Filippone should be our Grand Marshal. Dennis’s community involvement and leadership over the years in the Brick Township School system contributed to our decision. Especially for his efforts to bring ethnic Heritage and Culture into the school system." Shindle added.

Dennis and his wife of 36 years Dr. Christine Filippone live in Lacey, New Jersey. They have two children, Angie and Marie and are also the proud grand parents of Kaia. He is a 1974 graduate of Brick Township High School. After graduating from high school he attended Southern Connecticut University, from which he graduated in 1978. After his graduation from college Dennis returned to the Brick Township School system as a Special Educations Teacher at the Lake Riviera Middle School. In 1995 he was appointed Assistant Principal of Brick Township High School and served in that capacity until he was appointed Principal of the Osbornville Elementary School in 1999. In 2003 he returned to Brick Township High School as Principal and served in that capacity until 2016 when he was appointed Director of Planning, Research & Evaluation for the school system. In 2017 he was appointed Interim Superintendent while the district searched for a new Superintendent and will resume his prior position as Director of Planning, Research & Evaluation when the new Superintendent is appointed.

He has or is currently serving Brick Township, Toms River and the County of Ocean on several boards or committee’s including the Governor’s Drug and Alcohol Council, BMAC, Ocean County YMCA, Relay for Life, Toms River Planning Board, Dart Coalition, Lacey School District Education Foundation, Ocean Counties Fatality Review Committee and Superintendent of the Challenger League.

"Dennis stood out among this year’s nominees because of his commitment to the education of our youth in the school system. Especially for his efforts over the last several years to bring more Culture and Heritage into Brick Township’s High Schools." said Parade Chairman Michael Blandina. "We are confident that this extraordinary individual will uphold the fine tradition established by his predecessors. I am looking forward to having Dennis Filippone lead our Twenty-seventh annual celebration as Grand Marshal during this year’s celebration."

Please join us as we celebrate the 27th Anniversary, the past and future successes of the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival and also honor Dennis Filippone’s selection as our 2018 Grand Marshal at our Annual Grand Marshal Dinner Dance. This special event will take place on Thursday June 14, 2018 at the Crystal Point Yacht Club, Route 70, Point Pleasant, New Jersey beginning at 6:30 pm. To commemorate the dinner dance and the selection of Dennis Filippone as Grand Marshal, we will publish a souvenir ad journal that will be distributed at our annual dinner dance and other events leading up to the parade. We invite you to take this opportunity to advertise your business, profession or add your congratulatory message to Dennis in the journal.

Anyone interested in attending the Dinner Dance, placing an ad in the ad journal, sponsoring the event, joining the Parade Committee or wishing any other information regarding this year’s Parade and Italian Festival and accompanying events may contact Michael at 732-477-6507 or e-mail the committee at info@columbusnj.org.