CONNER, Donald Joseph Of Hingham, Massachusetts, formerly of Wellesley, passed away at the age of 86 of pneumonitis at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Wednesday January 9, 2019.
Born February 3, 1932, Don was the loving husband of 60 years to Janet Clopeck Conner, loving father to Bob Conner of Hyannis, Nancy Campbell and her husband Jack of Upton, Cathy Cameron and her husband Rick of Hopkinton, and David Conner of Seattle, and the cherished grandfather of Christine Brown and her husband Eric, Scott Campbell, Allison Cameron and Lauren Cameron.
Don grew up in Lexington, MA and graduated from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH. He attended the University of Maine in Orono then enlisted in the army and finished his education at Babson College in Wellesley where he graduated in 1955. During his college years, he spent summers on Nantucket working as a waiter and teaching waterskiing. He met Janet at a party in October of 1957, and they quickly knew they were the one for each other and he proposed two months later. He had received his first job offer as a salesman for Eveready Battery Company and was relocated to Buffalo, NY where they courted long distance for 6 months until their wedding in June of 1958. Three children quickly followed in the span of 4 years and then their last child born 6 years later. He was relocated several times before settling back to New England in Wellesley, MA. He started a second career developing his company New Equity Associates, buying and managing apartment buildings. He was a very active member of the Wellesley Congregational Church where he participated in many outreach programs, including Habitat for Humanity, visiting prisoners at MCI Norfolk, organizing clothes drives for the homeless in Boston, as well as several other charitable causes. He and Janet spent years traveling the world exploring the local culture and people. One favorite memory is when he went bungee jumping in New Zealand at the age of 65 while Janet watched from below. They also spent years exploring the United States and drove across the country (without a GPS or a cell phone!) three different times for three months each in their camping trailer, meeting locals and taking in all this country has to offer. Other favorite travel destinations were St. John USVI, Bar Harbor, ME, Kitty Hawk, NC, and Naples, FL. to name a few.
He was a man of adventure and passed his adventurous spirit on to his children and grandchildren. He loved life on the water and was an avid boater. Over the years, he taught his children and grandchildren how to waterski. He also was the mastermind behind organizing three different family white-water rafting trips, cruising down Class 5 white-water in The Forks, Maine.
Don will be remembered by everyone who knew him for his endless love of family, great sense of humor, generosity, willingness to help others at any moment and for always being a perfect gentleman.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home at 477 Washington St., (Rt. 16) WELLESLEY, Wednesday, January 16 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. with a Memorial Service and Celebration of Life at the Linden Ponds PAC, 300 Linden Ponds Way, Hingham, MA 02043, Thursday, January 17 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road Waltham, MA 02452.