Dr. J. Edward Conners of Needham. Died December 23, 2008 at South Shore Hospital, Weymouth at the age of 88.
Beloved son of the late Thomas A. and Gertrude (Weeks) Conners. Husband of the late Eunice M. (Whelan) Conners.
Dr. Conners was born and raised in Brookline, MA.
He earned his BS Degree in Social Sciences from the College of the Holy Cross. He earned his M.Ed. degree in Vocational and Educational Counseling from Boston University. His doctorate degree was also from Boston University in the field of Counseling Psychology, Speech Pathology, and Audiology.
He was in private practice as a Consulting Licensed Psychologist and Vocational Expert.
In his professional career he was a Professor of Psychology, at the University of Massachusetts.
Dr. Conners was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychology at State College of Boston and Director of the Graduate Teacher Education Program in Special Education for Special Needs Children.
He was the Chief of the Counseling Psychological Program at the Veterans Administration Psychiatric Hospital in Brockton.
He was also a Research Associate in Mental Health at the Harvard School of Public Health.
One of Dr. Conners’ most significant contributions was in the field of special education. He designed Chapter 750 of the Acts of 1960. Chapter 750 was the forerunner to what is today Chapter 766, requiring Massachusetts public schools to provide programs for the instruction of all special needs children.
He was a Marine Officer and a Purple Heart Recipient during World War II.
An avid golfer, Dr. Conners was a member of Charles River Country Club, Newton MA since 1963. He also served on the Board of Governors for the Algonquin Club of Boston, and was a former member of the Harvard University Faculty Club of Boston.
He was a rare combination of intellect, passion, and humor.
He was always devoted to his family and will be greatly missed by his family and his dear friends. Beloved husband of the late Eunice M. (Whelan) Conners. Loving and Devoted father of John Edward “Jay” Conners Jr. and his wife Audrey of Springfield VA, Dr. Suzanne Conners St. Germain and her husband Robert of Dedham and David J. Conners and his wife Patricia of Cohasset. Brother of the late Thomas and William. Cherished and proud grandfather of Michele Finnegan, John Edward “Jay” Conners III, Micaela Conners and the late Leslie Ann Conners and great grandfather of Morgan. Funeral from the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Ave Needham on Saturday, December 27 at 9:00 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Joseph Church at 10:00AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. A Private interment with Military honors will be held at the MA National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers donations in Dr. Conner’s name may be made to The College of the Holy Cross, Alumni Office, 1 College St., Worcester MA 01610.