John J. "Boots" Connelly
12/24/2021


To view Livestream of the Funeral Mass for John J. Connelly December 31st at 10:00am.

CONNELLY, John J. “Boots” lifelong resident of West Roxbury and Milton, passed away on Christmas Eve at age 86. John was the devoted and loving husband of Marilyn Connelly (nee Kenny) for sixty-two years. Proud father of Dr. Maureen Connelly and her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Krane, John Connelly, Catherine Connelly-Perry and her husband Jim Perry, Michael Connelly and his wife Noreen, Hon. Kevin Connelly and his wife Mosey, and Susan Singer and her husband Sam. He is also survived by 12 very special grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, classmates and teammates, friends and colleagues. He was the son of the late Judge John J. Connelly and Catherine D. (Gibbons) Connelly and brother of the late Paul J. Connelly.

John “Boots,” as he was known, was a three sport captain (football, baseball, and hockey), All-Scholastic athlete and member of the Boston Latin School Hall of Fame, graduating in the class of 1954. He went on to Boston College where he starred in football and baseball, graduating as vice president of the Class of 1958. He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps in 1959 and married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Connelly. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, John was appointed a probation officer in the Boston Juvenile Court. He was promoted to Chief Probation Officer of the Norfolk Probate and Family Court in 1971 where he served with distinction until his retirement in 2009.

Above his many professional and athletic accomplishments, John was most proud of his entire family and enjoyed many wonderful occasions over the years, including numerous summers in Scituate. In his later years, he had a wonderful retirement with his beloved Marilyn, celebrating family milestones, traveling, and enjoying friendships at his Fuller Village residence.

Funeral from the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St. West Roxbury on Friday, December 31st at 9am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Theresa of Avilla Church at 10 o’clock. To live stream the Funeral Mass, go to www.sttheresaparishboston.com. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury. Visiting hours at the Gormley Funeral Home, Thursday, December 30th from 3pm-7pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Connelly’s memory can be made to the Boston Bullpen Project at bostonbullpenproject.org. For directions and guestbook gormleyfuneral.com
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Gormley Funeral Service
2055 Centre Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
617-323-8600