John Hyland, the Grand Marshal-elect for the 2015 Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade, has stepped down because of recurring illness.
It was announced “with great sadness” on Tuesday by the parade committee:
Many of you may already know that John beat the challenge of AML, the most deadly form of Leukemia, back in 2010. He did so with grace, pride and strength that we all admire. He handled the cancer the same way he handles life — with gusto.
Cancer-free for four years, John recently was diagnosed with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML), the trustees reported.
The treatment for CMML will require chemotherapy on an outpatient basis, followed by a recovery period and then a bone marrow transplant. This disorder was caught in the early stages and John’s doctors are optimistic he will have a full recovery. It does mean that he will spend the next few months undergoing treatment.
John’s participation in March 2015 would have extended a family tradition dating to 1998, when his mother, former Morris Township Mayor Kathleen Ginty Hyland, served as Grand Marshal.
Friends call John Hyland the “Iron Man” because he is a seasoned triathlete and marathoner who continued competing after his 2010 diagnosis. The father of three is a founder and managing partner of the Private Advisor Group.
In addition to sending John prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery, the parade trustees said they are donating $10,000 to the New Jersey Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
John was named Grand Marshal in August. The parade’s selection committee will go back to work in upcoming days and present another selection to the board for its approval, said former Grand Marshal Willie Quinn.
SCENES FROM THE 2014 MORRIS COUNTY ST. PATRICK’S PARADE
