Earl Connolley Obituary

Sept. 28, 1926 - July 10, 2008 Born in Palo Alto, Earl spent his first years in Bolder Creek. He answered a school bell for over 60 years, first in Boulder Creek and then in Redwood City where he lived with his mother and grandmother until he graduated from Sequoia High School in 1944. From a small boy Earl had dreams of becoming a pilot. The day after his high school graduation he left for US Air Force Cadet Training in Missoula, Montana. At the end of WWII Earl was transferred to Air Force basic training in Amarillo, TX. He saw brief service in the South Pacific before his honorable discharge and return to Redwood City in 1 947. In 1 949 he received his BA Degree and Secondary School Teaching Credential from San Jose State. In 1 950 he and the former Helen Kertell were married and made their home in San Mateo. Their son George was born in 1 954 and John in 1 957. Both succumbed to Muscular Dystrophy in their late teens. Earl began his teaching career in 1950 with a 5th grade class at Laurel School in San Mateo. Then transferred to Borel Junior High. In 1956, he moved to San Mateo High School and taught math and coached swimming, wrestling and frosh football. With the opening of Aragon High School he transferred there and continued teaching math and coaching. His dream of becoming a pilot inspired him to establish a special program in aero-space education at Aragon. Summers were spent teaching Red Cross swimming, coaching the swim team at Peninsula Golf and Country Club in San Mateo, plus earning a Masters Degree in School Administration at San Francisco State. In 1975 he began his 10 years as Headmaster of St. Matthews Episcopal Day School in San Mateo and concluded his final 4 years as principal of St. Ambrose Sea Breeze School in Foster City. Earl was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Los Altos and SIRS Branch 35 Los Altos. He was a fan of all sports and especially enjoyed playing golf, and he and Helen enjoyed extensive travels over their 58 years together. Earl was a gentle man - honorable, kind and caring, good natured, patient, accepting everything that came his way with grace, and nothing pleased him more than time spent with good friends. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things." Matthew 12-35 Memorial services will be held at 3PM on Friday, August 1st at Christ Episcopal Church, 1 040 Border Rd., Los Altos. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 4850 Union Ave., San Jose CA 95124 or a favorite charity.

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Published by Bay Area News Group publication from Jul. 25 to Jul. 27, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Earl Connolley

4 Entries

Howard B

November 2, 2022

Mr Connolley was the best Aerospace teacher at Aragon High there were not many of us in the class, but he made me, and others interested in Aviation. I ended up working for Delta airlines for 28 years I wish I looked him up. I wanted to thank him for taking us on field trips in his own car what a great teacher he was. It was so sad to hear about his passing. I wish I could have told him in person thank you for all you did. I wonder if I was the only one that moved into the airplane field from that class I will never know. I just retired from Delta, and he will always be in my heart.

Michael Heneveld,dds

July 28, 2008

Dear Mrs. Connolley, I am deeply saddened to learn of Earl's passing. Donnita forwarded the news to me via e-mail. Earl was one of my favorite patients. I always looked forward to the days he would show up on my schedule, for he would always regale me with wonderful stories of your summer travels. You two seemed like the perfect couple. I know he loved you very much! I knew him as a kind man. A man who had empathy for those less fortunate. Many of us will miss him. My heart goes out to you! He may be gone, but he will not be forgotten! Your friend, Michael Heneveld, dds.

Mary Jane Narron

July 25, 2008

Dear Mrs. Connolley,
Mr. Connolley was my Math teacher at Aragon High School in the 60's. He was a great man. I remember the day only half of the class turned in their homework. He stood at the front of the class admonishing the slackers. He referred to your children and the fact that they were unable to do the things that we were capable of doing due to their health. You could have heard a pin drop in that class room. The next day everyone turned in their homework and continued to do so until the end of the school year. He was a motivator and a wonderful teacher and coach. My thoughts are with you.

Gwen Kringen Casten

July 25, 2008

Please accept my sincere sympathy for your loss, Mrs. Connolley. Your husband taught my Driver Ed class in high school and he was a very kind man. You were my kindergarten teacher your first year of teaching at No. Shoreview School. I have never forgotten either one of you. God Bless You.

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