Irwin A Connelly

Irwin A. Connelly was born November 19, 1945, in Tampa, Florida. He graduated from Santa Fe High School, Lakeland, Florida, and from the University of Notre Dame in 1968, the latter made possible in part by Operation Bookstrap, Lake Wales. He served in Korea and the U. S. Army 1968-1970. He received his juris doctor from The University of Florida College of Law in 1973.

Irwin practiced law in Lake City, Volusia County, and Flagler County 1973-2009. He donated hundreds of hours of service to clients of Legal Services of Central Florida. He received the Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award in its inaugural year, 1982. He was the City Attorney for Flagler Beach in the 1980s, was a private practitioner in Bunnell and Flagler Beach, and served as Division Chief of the Flagler County Public Defender's Office.

Irwin worked closely with Walter S. Boardman and others in 1978-1981 to save from development what is now Bulow Creek State Park in Volusia and Flagler Counties, and devoted his energies to protecting what remains of Florida's wilderness throughout his career. He provided legal assistance to founders of the Flagler County Humane Society and served on its first Board of Directors.

Irwin retired from practicing law in 2009 and devoted his time to continuing to help children as a volunteer Reading Pal and particularly by working with Flagler-Palm Coast High School Future Problem Solvers to address the nurturing of children born into poverty. The students' award-winning strategies included organizing Child Fairs and seeking to introduce the science of early brain development into Flagler schools' curriculum in order to educate soon-to-be-parents about the importance of the very earliest stages of children's development. He and two of his Problem Solvers were named Flagler Beach Rotary Club's 2018-2019 Citizens of the Year for their continuing efforts.

Irwin welcomed friends' offers to pray for him -- particularly if their prayers included thanksgiving for the wonderful life he was privileged to enjoy. He loved Florida's natural resources and beauty. He adhered to the philosophy that, in order to know the Creator, one need only look to Creation. He was a sports fan, participant, and analyst, and especially loved music and hiking in his great grandparents' Ireland. He is survived by his wife Brynn Newton and his son Padraic Connelly.

In lieu of other remembrances, please consider a gift to the Nature Conservancy or Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

By Mail:

The Nature Conservancy

Attn: Treasury

4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100

Arlington, VA 22203 USA

The Nature Conservancy Donation Link

By Mail:

The Dollywood Foundation

C/O Finance Department

111 E. Main Street, 2nd Floor

Sevierville, TN. 37862

The Imagination Library Donation Link

Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with arrangements.