John T. Connolly

1927 - 2018

Connolly, John T. Connolly, John T., John died peacefully at home on August 16, 2018 in Spokane, WA from complications of Parkinsons with his loving wife Marlene Geraghty Connolly at his side. John was born in 1927 to Beatrice (Tappero) Connolly and John P. Connolly in Pana, Illinois. He moved with his family to Michigan when he was a toddler and graduated from Dearborn High School in 1945. At that time, he served in WWII, first as a Merchant Marine and then in the Army's 88th Division where he was stationed in Italy. John returned home in 1948 and studied Criminology at Michigan State University under the GI Bill. He decided he'd like to try police work the following summer and began his 37 year career with the Dearborn Police Department. He was a career policeman who started walking the beat in 1949 and worked his way up to Deputy Police Chief in 1977. John O'Reilly was elected Dearborn Mayor that year and appointed John Connolly Dearborn's Chief of Police for the next eight years. In 1986, he retired from Dearborn and took a position as Public Safety Director in Gibraltar, MI , placing him in charge of the Gibraltar Police and Public Works Departments. John completed his Criminology Degree at Madonna University while working at the Dearborn Police Department where he had a reputation for conducting himself with honesty, integrity and kindness. As a Corporal in 1955, he ran Dearborn's first K-9 Police Dog Service Program. In law enforcement, he received a departmental citation and two commendations for exemplary service in making arrests of holdup men and burglars. He also received a letter from the late FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover for his part in apprehending two bank robbers. Inspector Connolly also served as training officer and supervisor of the Dearborn Police Reserve Force, receiving an award from the members in "recognition of outstanding contributions to the objectives of the Dearborn Police Reserves". John was also a tremendous athlete, excelling in baseball and basketball. He played in high school, on the Army Championship Basketball Team at the end of WWII, in college and throughout his life, even playing in the "Old Timer Leagues" long after retirement. In 1992, he was inducted into the Dearborn Sports Hall of Fame. After retirement, John became a world-renowned dog show judge and was a founder of the American Boxer Charitable Foundation. He served three terms as President of the American Boxer Club and was a mentor to at least two generations of breeders, exhibitors and judges. John was the oldest of 32 first cousins. He will be missed dearly by his wife Marlene and stepdaughters Marcella (Don) Maile of Camino Island, Sheila Geraghty and Brigid (Neil) Krause of Spokane, Nora (Steve) Boyle of Sacramento, Kara (Pat) McIntyre of Wayne, MI and sister Eleana (Octavian) Mihon of Ann Arbor, MI and brother Dan (Judy) Mihon of Natrona Heights, PA and eight step-grandchildren.