Joseph E. Connor

STILLWATER -- Stillwater Committeeman and former mayor Joseph E. Connor, 68, passed away Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, at Lyons VA Hospice Center in Lyons.

Mr. Connor was born Nov. 1, 1942, to Joseph and Francis Connor in Staten Island, N.Y. His childhood summers were spent at Lake Hopatcong with his family until it became their permanent residence in 1956. A fine artist, Mr. Connor studied oil painting and sculpting at Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts in 1963, Brooklyn Museum Art School in 1965, and Maryland Institute, College of Art, in 1971. He received his Master of Fine Arts in 1973 from the University of Hartford in Hartford, Conn. He later became a professor of art and arts and humanities at the University of Hartford and Ocean County College in Toms River. His sculptures and environmental art works have been exhibited in numerous art collections, museums, and galleries, and were featured on public TV stations in Baltimore, Md., and Orange County, N.Y.

Mr. Connor served with distinction in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was attached to the First Infantry Division, where he became a combat photographer/journalist. His war photos, sketches, and combat reports were published in military newspapers, stateside newspapers, military magazines and multiple history books of the Vietnam War. Many of his photos were chosen for inclusion in the War Collection of the National Archives and Smithsonian Institute.

Mr. Connor's military records include multiple letters of commendation for service, above and beyond the normal duties expected of individuals in service. He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for specific actions in ground operations against hostile forces.

Throughout his life, Mr. Connor worked as a professional entertainer and musician. While serving in Vietnam, he sang with Bob Hope and Reita Farita, 'Miss World,' in 'Bob Hope's Christmas Show' on Christmas Day in 1966. He also sang the falsetto in Barry Mann's 'Who Put the Bomp.' When he was 12 years old, he made a musical instrument using a tin pie plate, a wooden board, and twine strings. Recently, while undergoing chemotherapy, Mr. Connor made his own acoustic guitar. A video of him playing this guitar and singing 'We Belong Together,' can be viewed on www.YouTube.com (search: 'Joe Connor').

The son of the late Joseph Connor, Mr. Connor is survived by his wife, Anne; two sons, Devin and his wife, Romela, of Budd Lake and Marcus of Hopatcong; stepsons, Tony Gamboni of Franklin, Va., Michael Gamboni and his wife, Renee, of Shohola, Pa., and Carlo Gamboni of Stroudsburg, Pa.; three grandchildren, Mia, Niko and Nina; his mother, Frances Connor of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; his sister, Karen Molloy of Holiday, Fla.; his brother, Edward and his wife, Linda, of Stillwater; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel R.C. Church in Swartswood. Interment will follow at Stillwater Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St., Newton.

Memorial donations may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America at www.va.org or to Disabled American Veterans, Attention: Gift Processing, P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. Online condolences may be offered at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com.