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Matt Lee
Grand Marshal
Matthew Lee is a resident of Port Monmouth, Middletown. He is a proud member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh club and pipe band in Old Bridge. He is also a member of the AOH Vol. Patrick Torphy Monmouth County Division 2 in Middletown. His family tree boasts connections to multiple parts of Ireland with paternal grandparents having emigrated from Carrick on Shannon, Co. Roscommon and Cloonagh, Curry, Co. Sligo. His maternal grandfathers family also traces their roots back to Co. Cork. Those family connections were strengthened by his wife Mary, who’s family comes from Monaghan and Kerry. Matt and Mary embrace their culture and history for their two sons Jack and Michael, maintaining close relationships with family still living in Ireland.
The oldest child of John and Diana Lee, Matt was born in Jackson Heights, Queens. As a young child the family moved to Old Bridge and he grew up there with his younger sister Karen. He attended St Ambrose Elementary School in Old Bridge, St Mary’s Regional High School in South Amboy and Rowan University. While in high school, Matt was introduced to the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh in Old Bridge after expressing interest in the bagpipes to a family friend who was a member. This was the beginning of his journey to becoming a bagpiper.
After graduating from Rowan, Matt began his design career working in Manhattan for the auction house, Sotheby’s. From there he worked with a few different ad agencies, introducing him to a range of industries including food, finance, and insurance brands
It was at this time he also began to consider giving back and sharing his talents. After losing his father to ALS when he was 15, Matt wanted to give back to the organization that supported his family during that difficult time, so he began volunteering as a designer for the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter. This relationship has continued to this day as he supports the organization as a piper and designer when they have a need.
After a few years, Matt settled into a focus on healthcare advertising and has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years. Helping to launch new brands, emphasize disease awareness, and give voice to rare disease communities and treatments. He currently works as an Associate Creative Director for Pryme, a provider and patient agency located in Morristown.
While Matt grew his work experience, he also got back to learning to play the pipes. Initially working with a member of the Essex Shillelagh pipe band to continue his instruction. From there he joined St Anns of Hampton Pipes & Drums. While enjoying his time with the band, he still felt a pull to where it all started and eventually came back to play with the Friendly Sons Pipe Band in Old Bridge. Within a short time, Matt also became a member of the club as well. Soon after he brought his design skills to bear for both the club and band. When the opportunity presented itself, Matt then joined fellow Shillelaghs on the Belmar parade committee and took lead on the design of the ad journal. Almost 15 years later he still works with the committee to help support his favorite parade.
Matt takes pride in marching in the Belmar parade each year as a Shillelagh piper and club member. He is humbled by this honor as Grand Marshal and is excited to take that stroll down Dave Stanley Ave. with his family, friends.
Fran Griffin
Grand Marshal
Fran Griffin lives on Seaview Island and grew up in Wharton, a small town in northwestern NJ where her father, Edward was born. Her mother Barbara hails from Jersey City. Fran, her brothers Marty and Eddie, and sister MaryBeth grew up in a town with many cousins.
Irish culture activities were common in the Griffin house and Fran took step-dancing lessons for a few years. In 1974, the Irish American Association of Northwest NJ was founded, and Fran’s father was one of the original members. The Association organized their first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Wharton in 1979 and her father donated the organization banner in memory of his father which Fran, her brothers and sister carried as they led that first parade with their parents proudly behind them. After college Fran learned to play the bagpipes, playing with CuChullain and Rory O’Moore bands in many parades and at area festivals.
Fran had an early interest in health care, becoming a volunteer at the local hospital in high school and an EMT on the town first aid squad. Fran graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University and worked as a Registered Respiratory Therapist in two hospitals in Morris County. Her favorite area was the neonatal ICU where she worked most often. Fran advanced to hospital administration and earned a master’s degree in public administration. In 2000, she moved to the shore to work in administration at a local hospital and then went on to roles with organizations working to improve health care quality. Currently Fran oversees quality programs for the Infectious Diseases Society of America and does some independent consulting.
Fran is proud of her Irish American ancestry, including a wee bit of Scottish. Most of her ancestors emigrated in the 19th century from counties Cork, Galway, Meath and Roscommon. Through genealogical research Fran discovered cousins in County Galway and in 2022 traveled there to meet them. A maternal third great-grandparent’s father was born in County Down, emigrated to colonial America and served as a captain in the Continental Army; his mother’s ancestors were on the Mayflower and in Jamestown.
Fran joined the Belmar Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee in 2004, where she has made many friends. She has supported the parade by volunteering at fundraisers, organizing the Evening of Irish Culture from 2011-2016 and creating and managing the parade Facebook page. In 2015, Fran was the announcer for the parade and proud to recognize her brother Eddie, as he marched with the Belmar Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh. Fran has enjoyed serving as the announcer since then. In 2013 she joined the NJ Irish Festival committee and was honored to serve as chair in 2018. Fran manages Facebook pages for the Irish American Cultural Institute Jersey Shore Chapter and the St. Vincent de Paul Society Belmar, is a parishioner at St. Rose where she volunteers for the children’s liturgy, and a member of Manasquan Elks Lodge 2534.
Fran is honored to have been selected as a grand marshal for the 2025 parade along with fellow grand marshal Matt Lee. She is looking forward to marching with family and friends and will proudly carry her great-great-grandfather’s blackthorn shillelagh walking stick that her father carried in that first Wharton parade.