John T. "Jack" Conner Sr.

JOHN T. "JACK"
CONNER SR.
MODENA, NY - John T. "Jack" Conner Sr., of Modena, NY, passed away October 24, 2008 at Vassar Brothers 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 of his life, starting as manager of the famed Sunnygables Farm at Ithaca in the late 1940's and 1950's. He continued his career as manager of Everybody's Farm in Mason, Ohio, 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 Junction, 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, which continued 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 Leader of the Mason, Ohio Kiwanis Club, 1960; the Progressive Breeders Award, 1965 from the Ohio Brown Swiss Breeders Association; and the Virginia Horseman of the year in 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, Houston, TX; Mrs. John T. (Kathleen) Conner, Jr.; three grandchildren, John Eric Conner, Kristin Conner Fink and Andrew C. Conner; also a sister-in-law, Mrs. Roy Seaburg; and a nephew and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. William Seaburg of Roanoke, VA. He was predeceased by his brothers, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis H. Conner and David Conner; and his sister, Eleanor Conner Lockwood.
Visiting hours will be Tuesday, October 28, 2008 from 7-9 p.m. at the Wallkill Funeral Home, Wallkill, NY, with a gravesite burial service on Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 1:30 p.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church Cemetery, Rt. 44-55, Gardiner, NY.
Remembrances may be made to the Modena Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 73, Modena, NY 12548, or to a charity of one's choice.