Five Questions with Olly deMacedo ’82

Long before November arrives, Olly deMacedo ’82 has Thanksgiving on his mind. As the director of America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration in Plymouth, deMacedo is responsible for conceptualizing, planning and organizing the annual parade that honors and celebrates periods of United States history.

“We start brainstorming in January, but I’m thinking about this parade all the time,” says deMacedo, who along with hundreds of others, volunteers his time to the effort. “The history behind each float and the materials and mechanics needed to create them—this is what I think about at night as I fall asleep.” 

Taking place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and attracting more than 150,000 spectators each year, the parade is broadcast on WCVB Channel 5 and airs on ABC affiliates across the country. DeMacedo narrates the parade on air, sharing the story behind each of the 20 handcrafted floats. Among his favorites is the Thanksgiving turkey that he made about 15 years ago. "I carved each of the feathers by hand," he recalls. 

In five questions, deMacedo, who has worked in sales and operations for Boston Sand and Gravel for more than three decades, shares what he loves best about the Hometown Celebration, explains why community is so important to him and recalls his first admissions interview at Stonehill. 

How did you get involved in America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration?

I started as a volunteer and member of the board of directors in 1998. After a few years, the original organization decided to cease operations, and I assumed leadership under a new organization in 2000. Our event has grown from a local parade to a weekend-long celebration with the parade being broadcast across the county and livestreamed. 

What is your favorite part of the Hometown Celebration?

I love to see the faces of the people who come to the parade and how much they love what the event represents. I continually get calls, emails and letters from people all over the country who appreciate what we do. I also love creating a new theme and floats every year. The floats we build are self-propelled, made from old school buses and other repurposed vehicles. Our all-volunteer staff is deeply committed to our vision, and I enjoy the camaraderie we have developed. 

You are deeply committed to community and have served in various capacities. What has inspired you to give back in this way?  

Can you share a lesson from Stonehill that continues to resonate with you today? 

I learned about community. I enjoyed meeting people from all over the country, as it gave me an appreciation for belonging to something bigger than just me. My classmates, my teammates on the basketball and football teams, and my housemates all left an impression on me as to what community is about.

Additionally, Fran Dillon ’70 [retired vice president for advancement at Stonehill who began his career in admissions] was the first person I met at Stonehill, at my admissions interview. I could sense his servant heart. Watching his career at Stonehill, where he nurtured and invested in the students, inspired me to find ways to serve as well.

Stonehill is part of our family. I met my wife, Maureen Sullivan ’85, at Stonehill. Our daughter, Meghan, graduated in 2019, and our daughter, Erin, will graduate this spring. 

Stonehill’s motto is Lux et Spes or Light and Hope. What does this mean to you? 

Light and Hope are represented in what we do through America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration. An example is our “America’s Hometown Express” train float. As the train floats down the parade route, people donate non-perishable food and other items that we distribute to local food pantries. Each year, thousands of pounds of food are donated through the train.