John T. Asselin

NEW LONDON  -  After a swift and fierce battle, John T.  Asselin-Connolly, 73, of New London, succumbed to pancreatic cancer on June 21, 2024. 

John was born in Manchester, Connecticut to Oliver and Mary Rose Asselin, both of whom predeceased him.  He was raised in WIllimantic and graduated from Windham High School in 1969. 

John is survived by his loving wife, Susan Asselin-Connolly, and three children: daughters Jessica Horton of South Carolina and Kristina Grove (Michael) of Florida; son Ryan Connolly of New Jersey, as well as his much loved grandson, Jase Horton. John cherished his family deeply and found immense joy in their achievements and shared moments. John is additionally survived by his brothers Raymond Asselin and Oliver "Joe" Asselin, and his sister Laurel Asselin. He was predeceased by his sister Dorothy Asselin.John also leaves behind his best friend, Hugh Teel, as well as the daughters he adopted along the way, Megan Ledoux and Anita Morneau. 

It was often said that John could make a friend at a stop sign, and once he made that friend, it was for life. If you were a member of his pack, it was forever.

John loved horses.  At the age of 8 he began his life-long adventures on horseback with his first horse, Dobbie.

From bringing Dobbie upstairs to his bedroom (to his mother's horror), to English events with his daughters in their youth, to trail rides with a friend (sometimes where there was no trail), to sorting (yes, chasing cows), and finally to reining, he loved them all and made many long and lasting friendships through these beautiful creatures. Being on the back of a horse was his happy place, and riding truly brought him so much joy.

John was endlessly adventurous, often defying the limits of what one might expect a man of 73 years old to be able to do. Filled with grandiose dreams (that he sometimes let Sue rein in), John checked off a litany of bucket list items, including showing in the NRHA NonPro Futurity in 2019. The Futurity, is a national competition on the back of a three year old horse. John often described riding a three year old horse as “a cross between exhilarating and trying to ride a lion after it was stung by 1000 bees”. One of his last rides in 2023 was on his newly purchased 3yo reiner.  He was so happy to take this on, and if his health would have allowed him to, he’d probably be getting ready for this year's Futurity season.

John graduated from the University of Connecticut, the University of Connecticut School of Business, and the University of Connecticut School of Law, beginning his career as a trial lawyer in 1976. 

Just as he was a cowboy on the back of a horse, many a judge described him as a "Cowboy on trial".  John and Sue met when they were opposing counsel on a case and she frequently explained that she married him because she never wanted to have a case with him again. Opposing counsel knew they had to be fully prepared for a case against John, but also knew that integrity was John's middle name. A colleague once described John as a "truth monger" and as someone who had great fealty not only to the Ethical Code but also to his own code of ethics.  
John's peers respected him for his integrity and his profound knowledge of the law. During his career as a lawyer he published two books (one on Workers Compensation Law and one on Trial Practice), both of which are still considered one of the "go to" authorities for lawyers working in those fields.  In addition, he co-authored, with Attorney Jay Levin, a treatise published in the Connecticut Bar Journal on Executive Orders in Connecticut, which is still cited in legal opinions to this day. 

John's complex legacy of rigorous legal scholarship, his finely honed trial skills and personal determination in learning how to be a better rider will be remembered by those who knew him in the legal and in the horse worlds. He leaves behind a profound impact on both communities and on his family who will carry forward his memory and lessons. 

There will be a celebration of John's life on Thursday, June 27th  at 4pm at Filomena's Restaurant in Waterford, CT.  All are welcome and invited to come, share a story or two, and raise a glass in his honor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to High Hopes, Therapeutic Riding Inc in Old Lyme, CT  or to a charity of your choice.