Ronald C. Connelly

1931 - 2025

Ronald C. Connelly, 93, of Pittsburgh, formerly of Butler, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Northampton, Pa., passed away Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, at Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh.
Born Dec. 14, 1931, in Pittsburgh, he was a son of the late Charles J. Connelly and Catherine Geyer Connelly.
Ron was well known in Butler as the former chief of the Butler City police department. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in 1959 and was hired by the city as a motorcycle patrolman. He rose through the ranks as sergeant, captain and then chief. He retired in 1979 with 20 years of service. He was a member in good standing of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Never one to sit still, Ron could be seen flipping pizzas or delivering coffee around Butler following his retirement. He found employment in Florida as a blood lab courier and a bank security guard and, later in Northampton, Pa., as a funeral home assistant.
He was an avid reader, completing two to three novels weekly, and a bird-watcher. He was a fan of the Pittsburgh sports teams, Notre Dame football, and the Little League World Series. Ron also enjoyed completing the daily crossword puzzle and attending musical performances in Pittsburgh. He loved his sweet treats, especially pie and ice cream; he was a real jokester; and he was an excellent whistler.
Ron was a physical fitness enthusiast, which he continued to pursue in retirement. He attended water aerobics classes three times a week at High Point Fitness in Bethel Park, Pa. until the day before his illness. Ron rode 8 to 10 miles on his exercise bike and lifted weights. He also taught water aerobics at the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley and Parkland High School, both in Allentown, Pa., and at a community center while living in Florida.
He is survived by six children, Zane Brown and his wife, Donalee, of Lafayette, Colo., Gregory Brown and his wife, Jennifer of Central Point, Ore., Christopher Connelly and his wife, Lisa, of Butler, Bruce Brown and his wife, Gretchen, of Pittsburgh, Timothy Brown and his wife, Dr. Carolyn Walsh, of Leesburg, Va., and Theresa Geisel and her husband, Jeffrey, of Pittsburgh; a son-in-law, Marty White of Erie, Pa.; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his loving wife, Eleanor Jean Good Brown Connelly, whom he married Jan. 25, 1974, and who passed away Aug. 31, 2018; one daughter, Ronna Jean White; one brother; and six sisters.
CONNELLY - Friends of Ronald C. Connelly, who died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the funeral home with Pastor Joel Benson, of Trinity Lutheran Church, officiating.
For those unable to attend, the funeral service on Saturday will be livestreamed at 11 a.m. via www.hvproductions.net/live.
Burial will follow in Butler County Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations via personal check to High Point Fitness, 1000 Higbee Drive, Suite A100, Bethel Park, PA 15102, or South Park Library, 2575 Brownsville Road, South Park, PA 15129. Please write "Ron Connelly Memorial" in the memo line of the check.
For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.