James Patrick Connolly passed away peacefully at Boston Medical Center on Nov. 20, 2025, with his nephews Sean and Timothy Connolly at his side.
Born Feb. 27, 1936, to Michael and Margaret Connolly, Jim grew up in Waltham, where he graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in 1953. He received an academic scholarship to attend Brandeis University, graduating in 1957 with a degree in English literature.
After college, Jim enlisted in the US Army Reserves and served as adjutant to Major General Mike Galvin, who’d been a strategist for General George Patton during WWII. Jim reached the rank of Sergeant E5 before receiving an honorable discharge in 1962.
After his service, Jim worked briefly as a technical writer before entering the teaching profession. He first found work as an English teacher at Belmont High School in Belmont New Hampshire, before moving on to the prestigious Laurel Crest Academy in Bristol, Connecticut, where he taught a course titled, “English and World Literature.” He also served as de facto coach for the school’s golf team, though he admittedly had few golf skills. “But I owned a VW bus,” he recounted, “and I could drive the whole team to the course!” One memory that stayed with him was gathering his students around a TV set to watch the news of President Kennedy’s assassination. “They were kids, but they knew things had changed that day.”
Jim continued as a full-time teacher until 1978, then took a position for Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) as a medical courier while continuing to work as a substitute teacher. He worked for GSK from 1985 – 2000, before retiring.
Everyone who knew Jim was acquainted with his quick wit and wicked sense of humor. He was generous and gregarious, able to lighten the mood at any gathering, with many lifelong friendships as proof. Describing himself in later years, he borrowed a line from Robert Frost: “I had a lovers’ quarrel with the world.”
For many years, Jim was a fixture at meals at the Acton Senior Center. Most days, he could be found laughing and chatting with his group of elderly gentlemen at one of the round tables. Jim lived at Redstone apartments at Kelley’s Corner but most recently moved to Windsor Green.
Jim is predeceased by his brothers Paul and Michael. He is survived by his cousin Michael Hennelly, nephews Sean, Timothy, Patrick, and Malachi, and his niece Francesca.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, Dec. 2 at Calvary Cemetery in Waltham, MA.
