Peter F. Connolly

Connolly, Peter Francis, 86, of West Falmouth and Hingham, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday evening, January 22, 2016 at Linden Pond’s Rose Court. 

Born in Boston, MA to Herbert and Frances (McCarty), Peter grew up in Newton, MA and graduated from Newton High School and Tabor Academy.  Peter was an accomplished multi-sport athlete in both high school and college. He was the National School Boy Shot Put Champion while at Tabor.  He also served as First Mate on the Tabor Boy, a 92’ sail-training schooner.  He attended Williams College and played both football and baseball and competed in track and field.  He served as President of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and President of his Class of 1953.  In June of 1953, Peter married his wife of 63 years, Susan McCauley in Winchester, MA.  That same year Peter began his career in sales with Inland Steel. He was then commissioned as an officer in the US Air Force and served for 2 years.  In 1958, Peter and Susan settled in Wayland, MA where they raised their 6 children.  Peter worked in the insurance and financial services industry for the remainder of his career.  He established several businesses including MedTac which at the time was an industry front runner in third party administration.  While committed to his career, Peter, affectionately known as Rock, always put family first.  He passed along his love of athletics to his children and 14 grandchildren and was often seen on the sidelines or in the bleachers cheering on his favorite athletes. As a family, they spent summers in West Falmouth.  Rock’s love of sailing continued throughout his life, spending glorious days visiting Buzzards Bay’s beautiful harbors and inlets.  Peter and Susan retired full-time to West Falmouth in 1995 where he dedicated himself to gardening, sailing and the community.  Rock was active in the West Falmouth Boat Club, was a member of the Board of Directors of Penikese Island School as well as West Falmouth Library.  Winter months were spent enjoying snowy days in Franconia, New Hampshire, splitting and stacking wood, skiing at Cannon Mountain and cross country skiing expeditions in Franconia Notch. Lastly, Peter remained a dedicated and loyal member of the Williams Alumni community and was a tireless volunteer for his class, planning annual reunions at Williams football games until just a few years ago.  Peter was beloved by all for his warmth and concern for everyone he knew. He was a man of deep faith and always reached out to others in need.  His broad smile and sparkling eyes brightened all of our days. 

Surviving Peter are his wife Susan McCauley Connolly of Hingham, MA and their six children. Ann Hynes and her husband Martin of Hingham; Peter Connolly and his wife Liliana and their sons Peter, Nick and Chase of Wellesley; Michael Connolly and his wife Christina and their children Grace, Joe and Kate of Natick; Ellen Connolly of Bozeman, MT; Beth Caputi and her husband David and their children Mac, Maggie, Lydia and Claire of Brunswick, ME and Middlebury, VT; and Andrew Connolly and his wife Julie and their children Lily, Michael, Andrew and Elizabeth of Duxbury. Peter is also survived by his brother Fred Connolly of Wellesley and sister Cathy Beatty and her husband Paul of Boston. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Thursday, January 28th from 4-8 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Friday, January 29th prior to the Funeral Mass in Church of the Resurrection, 1057 Main Street, Hingham at 10 AM. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Peter may be made to West Falmouth Library, PO Box 1209, West Falmouth, MA 02574 or a charity of your choice.