James Connolly

James (Jimmy) Connolly, age 86, peacefully passed away at his home in Sayville, New York on April 13, 2020.  He was born on January 9, 1934 in Derryrush in the town Carna, in the area known as Connemara, County Galway, Ireland to Coleman and Nora Connolly.  

In 1957, Jimmy emigrated from Ireland to live his dream in America. He was a resident of Sayville, New York for 49 years.  He was a passionate New York sports fan.  He loved his Giants and Yankees. 

He married Marie O’Connor on May 7, 1960. They were blessed with five children and six grandchildren.  He is survived by his loving wife, Marie.  This year, Marie and Jimmy would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary 

Additionally, left to honor and remember him are his three sons, James Francis, Brian Timothy and Sean Gerard and his two daughters, Marie Ann and Nora Patricia, three grandsons, Dillon, Owen and Cole and three granddaughters, Fiona, Nora and Oonagh.   

Jimmy always said his childhood dream was to drive someday in New York. After immigrated to America, he lived that dream every day.  He drove for Steinway Transit and Queen’s Transit for 38 years.  Then in retirement, he chose to drive a yellow school bus in Sayville.  He also worked at Yankee Stadium in the 1960s.   He believed in working an honest job with a smile and love.  One time when those qualities shined was when a passenger had a heart attack.  He turned that bus into an ambulance and drove it to the nearest hospital.  He saved that person’s life.   

There is an old Irish blessing— “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.”  We are all blessed with the memories of Jimmy, Dad, Mr. Jimmy, Uncle Jimmy– his smile, laugh, voice and love.  Sadly, in the end, Alzheimer’s Disease stole the memories from him but the disease cannot stop the love that gave us our many shared memories.   

James Connolly deserves a grand family celebration of his life.  Due to Covid–19, a private service and burial at St. Lawrence the Martyr cemetery will occur on April 21, 2020.   We hope to come together soon to honor the man, his life, love, memory and legacy.