John T. "Jack" Conner Sr.

Modena, NY

John T. "Jack" Conner, Sr., of Modena, NY, passed away on October 24, 2008 at Vassar Bros. Medical Center, Poughkeepsie, NY.

He was born August 29, 1922 in Auburn, NY, the son of the late Frank and Margaret Conner.

After graduation from Ithaca High School, Ithaca, NY, he entered the College of Agriculture at Cornell University. He left the university to enlist in the U.S. Army in 1943 where he saw service in the China-Burma-India Theatre during World War II, and was honorably discharged as First Lieutenant.

He was associated with farming all his life, starting as manager of the famed Sunnygables Farm at Ithaca in the late 1940's and 50's. He continued his career as manager of Everybody's Farm in Mason, OH, owned by WLW Radio and Television Station, where he became a well-known radio personality. In later years, he managed Black Watch Arabian Farm at Hopewell Jct., NY, and the Al-Marah Arabian Farm at Barnesville, MD, at that time the largest Arabian horse farm in North America, and Rapidan River Morgan Farm in Lignum, VA. Beginning in 1992, he and his son, J.T. Conner, Jr. operated their own horse breeding farm in Wallkill and Montgomery, NY, until his son's death in 2003.

Awards and honors include in 1964, the Ten Year Service Award for Outstanding Service to Agriculture Through Farm Broadcasting from the National Association of TV and Radio Farm Directors; the Outstanding Club Lead of the Mason, OH, Kiwanis Club (1960); the Progressive Breeders Award (1965), from the Ohio Brown Swiss Breeders Association, and the Virginia Horseman of the Year (1977) from the Virginia Horse Council.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Jean Carnell Conner, at home; son, Michael F. Conner of Philadelphia, PA; daughter, Dr. Margaret E. Conner of Houston, TX; Mrs. John T. (Kathleen) Conner, Jr. and three grandchildren: John Eric Conner, Kristin Conner Fink and Andrew C. Conner; sister-in-law, Mrs. Roy Seaburg and a nephew and his wife, Mr. & Mrs. William Seaburg of Roanoke, VA. He was predeceased by his brothers, The Right Rev. Msgr. Francis H. Conner and David Conner, and his sister, Eleanor Conner Lockwood.

Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, October 28, at Wallkill Funeral Home, 12 Bonaventura Ave., Wallkill, NY (845-895-3381).

Graveside burial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 29, at St. Charles Borromeo Church Cemetery, Route 44/55. Gardiner, NY.

Remembrances may be made to the Modena Rescue Squad, PO Box 73, Modena, NY 12548 or to a charity of one's choice.