Obituary of Robert J. Connolly

Robert J. Connolly, Jr., age 70, of Washington Township, NJ passed on January 3, 2018. Legacy Bob Connolly was born on June 12, 1947 in Philadelphia and was raised in the Wissinoming section of the city and graduated from Father Judge High School in June, 1965. Bob enlisted in the United States Army on September 27, 1966 and served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a combat infantryman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry "Golden Dragons," 25th Infantry Division. Upon discharge from the Army, Bob used his G.I. Bill to attend Huron University in Huron, South Dakota where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in May 1972. After graduation from college, Bob returned to Philadelphia and worked briefly as a substitute teacher for the School District of Philadelphia before joining the private sector. For the past nineteen years, Bob has devoted his professional expertise and academic education to assisting area veterans in their pursuit of education, training, employment, and veterans' benefits, first as a Veterans Benefits Counselor with the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office and Insurance Center, and since 1984, as a Veteran Contact Representative with the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service and Education Center. His knowledge and sensitivity to the employment and other problems of veterans, especially Vietnam War veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is well known and highly regarded throughout the Philadelphia area veterans community. While working as a Veteran Contact Representative, Bob also served as the Veteran Liaison Coordinator for the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. His many diverse efforts as Coordinator were instrumental in raising $1.7 million dollars to build and maintain the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Penn's Landing. The Memorial was dedicated on October 26, 1987. The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers, an organization of mothers who lost sons during the war, have always had a special place in Bob's heart and they have always considered him a dear friend. Bob is also the founder and Past President (1985-1989) of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society, a chartered, non-profit fraternal organization of Vietnam veterans devoted to community service in the Philadelphia area. Through Bob's efforts and the continuing financial support of the Memorial Society, the annual Father Judge High School - Abraham Lincoln High School football luncheon has been held for the past eighteen years. The luncheon was established to promote sportsmanship among the players from the neighborhood schools and to keep alive the memory of the thirty-eight young men from the schools who were killed-in-action in Vietnam, America's longest war. Bob is married to the former Mary Catherine Cleary (West Catholic Girls' High School, Class of 1968), a career employee with Conrail. Bob has a son Rob, (Bishop Shanahan, Class of 1992), an Account Specialist with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Family Beloved husband of 20 years to Mary C. (née Cleary); Devoted father of Robert J. III (Jillian M.); Cherished grandfather of Cara and Cameron; Adored son of Dorothy (née Birks) and Robert J., Sr.; Dear brother to Joan M. Campbell (Dennis); Treasured uncle to Patrick Campbell (Katie). Farewell Ceremony Viewing Wednesday from 8:30 to 10:00 AM at the McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOME 573 Egg Harbor Rd., Washington Twp. (Sewell), NJ 08080; Funeral Mass 11:00 AM at Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Glassboro, NJ; Interment and Military Honors at Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Williamstown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may also be made in his name to Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society, 4715-25 Mercer St., Philadelphia, PA 19137, www.pvvms646.com. share the memories … share love … ShareLife®