Dennis Connors

Dennis "Den" Connors, age 58, Systems Administrator for Town of Pepperell, died Thursday, September 3, 2009 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Nashua, NH after a courageous battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was the husband of Rosemary (Dunavin) Connors whom he married on July 9, 1977. Born in Troy, NY on September 9, 1950, he was a son of the late Francis T. and Ruth (Levanway) Connors. Mr. Connors was a graduate of Troy High School Class of 1968 and received his B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY and his M.S. from State University at Albany, NY. Prior to moving to Pepperell in 1983, he resided in Tucson, AZ for three years where he worked as a Senior Communication Specialist for the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, and as a Scientific Programmer/Analyst for the Kitt Peak National Observatory. Once residing in Pepperell, he was employed as a Manager at Wang Laboratories from 1983 to 1991, Manager at NEC Technologies in Boxborough, MA from 1991 to 1995, Associate Vice President of Software Development at System Soft Corp. in Natick, MA from 1995 to 1996, Department Manager of Hardware Development at Packard-Bell NEC in Boxborough, MA from 1996 to 1998, Director of Electrical Engineering & Software at Product Genesis from 1998 to 1999, Vice President of Engineering at Sema LHS Priority Call, Inc. in Wilmington from 1999 to 2000, Director of Wireless Development at Empirix, Inc. in Wilmington, MA from 2000 to 2002, and President of Knuwave Design Inc. in Pepperell from 2003 to 2008 when he continued on to be Principal Consultant from 2008 to his passing. While serving as President of Knuwave Design Inc., he was employed by the Town of Pepperell as the Systems Administrator from 2003 to his passing. Mr. Connors was an Amateur Radio Operator since 1977 serving on WB2SPK from 1977 to 1980, KD2S from 1980 to present, AMSAT where he worked as the PACSAT Project Manager from 1983 to 1985 and AVP, Spacecraft Systems. Mr. Connors was a member of many associations and organizations throughout his lifetime to include the Information Systems Technology Committee, Pepperell Emergency Management, Firefighter/EMT of the Pepperell Fire Department Hook and Ladder Company, where he was Assistant Treasurer, Pepperell Emergency Medical Service, Founder and President of the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio, American Astronomical Society, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. He was also the author and presenter of the wireless municipal systems presentations for the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Mr. Connors was an active member of the Community Church in Pepperell where he served on many committees, and was a Cub master for Pepperell Pack 41 from 1989 to 1993 and Scoutmaster of Pepperell Troop 13 from 1993 to 1996. He also enjoyed flying and was a private pilot since 2003. Besides his wife of 32 years, he is survived by a son, Christopher Connors and his husband, Benjamin Monopoli of Jamaica Plain, MA, a daughter, Amanda Michelle Bergeron and her husband Charles of Nashua, NH, and a brother, David W. Connors and his wife Janice of Troy, NY. He was pre-deceased by a sister, Cynthia Murray. Visiting hours at the MARCHAND FUNERAL HOME, 16 Pleasant St, Pepperell on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock at the Community Church of Pepperell, Townsend St., Pepperell. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Pepperell. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Community Church Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 320, Pepperell, MA 01463 or to the National Marrow Donor Program at www.marrow.org.