PAUL CONNOLLY

1962 - 2017

CONNOLLY--Paul Matthew,

of San Francisco, CA, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2017, after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was 54. Paul is survived by his partner Chas Nol of San Francisco, CA, and his lifelong friend Dana Blackburn of Heath, MA, as well as his brothers Jerry Connolly and wife Diane of West Linn, OR, Brian Connolly and wife Melissa of Sherborn, MA, and Mark Connolly and wife Victoria Ward of Panama City, Panama. He was a beloved uncle to Sean, Ethan, Nico, Alex, Isabella, Sydney and Ronan. Paul was born in Cambridge, MA, on May 1, 1962, to Joseph and Ann Connolly and grew up in Belmont, MA, and Northfield, IL. A Harvard University graduate with honors, he also received a Master's degree from the Yale School of Management. Paul was a national leader in nonprofit management and philanthropy, and most recently was Director of Philanthropic Advisory Services at Bessemer Trust. He was previously Chief Client Services Officer at TCC Group. He published books and numerous articles on philanthropy and nonprofit management and spoke frequently at national and international conferences. Paul served as Chairman of the Board of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and a director of the Nathaniel Wharton Foundation. He was a member of the San Francisco Advisory Committee of the Foundation Center, an advisory committee for the Headlands Center for the Arts, and the Program Committee for Horizons Foundation. He was active in gay men's spiritual communities. Paul was a talented ceramicist and sculptor and an adventurer, traveling the world with friends and family, curating unique and extraordinary experiences for them. He challenged everyone to embrace and express unbridled joy. Paul's compassion and humor will be sorely missed. Donations in his memory can be made to Horizons Foundation and Peaked Hill Trust. Visit Legacy.com for memorial events and guestbook.