Obituary of Daniel Joseph Connors

Daniel Joseph Connors, 94, longtime resident of Deep River, Connecticut, passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at the Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. He was born on April 18, 1927, son of Francis Dwyer Connors and Mary (Minahan) Connors of Taunton, Massachusetts. He attended St. Mary Parochial School and Monsignor Coyle High School in Taunton, graduating early in an accelerated program for young men entering military service for World War II. He joined the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific. After his discharge, he attended and graduated from the State Teachers College in North Adams, Massachusetts. While at State Teachers, he met and, in 1950, married, Ruth Murray of North Adams. After a year teaching in Readsboro, Vermont, he and Ruth moved to southern Connecticut where he joined the faculty of the new Valley Regional High School in Deep River. He taught Social Studies until his retirement in 1991, serving as chairman of the Social Studies Department for thirty years. He loved, and was beloved by, the more than four thousand students he taught at Valley Regional. In 1977 the graduating class dedicated the yearbook to him for his “assistance, understanding, consistent effort, and genuine interest.” Daniel received his master’s degree from Wesleyan University and published two books: Deep River: The Illustrated Story of a Connecticut River Town, and Saybrook and the American Revolution (written with his son Daniel). His Deep River won an award of merit from the Connecticut League of Historical Societies “for outstanding contribution to the development of interest in local history.” Daniel was active in religious and civic affairs. He was a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Chester, where he was an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was elected Grand Knight of the local council at St. Joseph’s. He served for many years as a member of the board of directors of the Deep River Library Association, as a member of the board of directors of the Deep River Historical Society, and as a justice of the peace. Daniel is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth, and his children, Kathleen, Daniel, and Michael; his grandchildren, Michael Connors, Timothy Connors, Patrick Connors, Kathleen Connors, Benjamin Connors, Alanna Connors-Duffy, and Aislinn Connors-Duffy; and his great-grandchildren, Christian and Charlotte Connors. He is also survived by his sister Ann Long. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 10:30am, at Saint Joseph’s Church, 48 Middlesex Avenue in Chester. Interment with the rendering of Full Military Honors will follow in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Daniel’s name to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To share a memory of Daniel or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com Arrangements are in the care of the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.