Always happiest when surrounded by his family
NEWBURYPORT — John “Jay” Connolly Jr. of Newburyport, formerly of Wakefield, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 14, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.
Jay was born in Lynn on July 3, 1946 and was the son of the late John Connolly Sr. and the late Charlotte (Dougherty) Connolly.
Jay was raised in Lynn and attended Saint John’s Prep in Danvers. He went on to graduate from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and earned his law degree from Suffolk University. As a longtime resident of Wakefield, where he practiced law for many years, he served on the Town Finance Committee, the Wakefield Savings Bank Board of Directors, on the Executive Board of the Wakefield Citizen’s Scholarship Foundation and as President of Bear Hill Golf Club.
Jay met his beloved wife, Catherine Ann, at a college mixer in New York City in March of 1966. From that moment on, they were bound together by love. They married in 1968 at St. Joseph’s Church in Wakefield. Their life together was filled with love and laughter. Jay was always happiest when he had Cathy, his three daughters, sons in law and grandchildren surrounding him. He loved a good round of golf, skiing with the sun at his back and bringing smiles to others with his great sense of humor.
Jay is survived by his wife, Catherine; daughters Jennifer and her husband, Dan Logan, of Wethersfield, CT; Caitlin and Dennis Hogan of Plymouth, MA; and Meghan and Charlie Fredette of New Boston, NH. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren Caroline, Sam and Charlie Logan; Molly Hogan and Weston Fredette. He is also survived by his sister, Pat and her husband, John Faino, of Colorado Springs as well as many other extended family and friends.
A private family service will be held on Sunday, November 21. All family and friends of Jay are invited to celebrate his life at a reception following the service, to be held at Bear Hill Golf Club, in Stoneham, on Sunday, November 21 from 2-5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jay’s name to the Wakefield Citizen’s Scholarship Foundation or High Pointe House of Merrimack Valley Hospice in Haverhill, MA.
Services are in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.
