John Thomas Conners Jr.

CONNERS, JR., John Thomas Age 89, passed away peacefully at home September 8, 2009. He was born in Nashville on March 25, 1920 to the late John Thomas and Mary Gilmore Conners. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 39 years, Ann Chisholm Conners. He attended local public grade schools and graduated in 1937 from Father Ryan High School. He finished Vanderbilt University where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity in 1941. Mr. Conners served as a First Lieutenant in the Army Air Forces and was an aerial observer instructor at Brooks Field in San Antonio, TX. Following Air Intelligence School in Harrisburg, PA, he was sent overseas in 1944 where he flew as a photo intelligence officer with the 15th Air Force in Italy. Following the war, he started law school at Duke University and graduated in 1948 from Vanderbilt Law School where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi. Mr. Conners was a partner in the law firm of Boult, Cummings, Conners and Berry for over fifty years. He practiced law in the area of general litigation. He formerly served on the Associate Board of Directors of Saint Thomas Hospital, and was an auxiliary member of the Daughters of Charity, and the first President of the Middle Tennessee Medical Center. In addition to working with St. Thomas and its entities, his practice concentrated in the area of medical malpractice, products liability and personal injury. He was active in the Nashville Bar Association's Medico-Legal Committee, the Circuit Court Committee, the Federal Disciplinary Board, and the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. He was a member of the Nashville, TN and American Bar Association, and The Association of Trial Lawyers. He was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Tennessee Bar Foundation. Mr. Conners was a founding member of Saint Henry's Church where he was a parishioner for over fifty years. He was one of the original members of the Serra Club and a member of the Knights of Columbus. In addition to his parents and wife, he is preceded in death by his sister, Mary Margaret Conners. He is survived by his nine children, Ginny (Dr. Robert) Ripley, John (Margaret) Conners III, Elly (Warren) McLain, Jeanne Schaedle, David (Teresa) Conners, Richard Gilmore (Holly) Conners, Nancy (Dr. George) Goldin, Jim (Maureen) Conners and Amy Murphree; his siblings, Anne Broden, Saint Louis, MO, Dr. James J. (Jackie) Conners, Jacksonville, FL and Catherine A. Conners; his twenty-nine grandchildren, Dr. R. Taylor (Anna), Ann and Peter (Katherine) Ripley, Boone (Larissa) Pitts, Leah and Dan Conners, Matthew, Eleanor and Frances McLain, Scott (Anna), Ben, Will, Anna Mary, and Virginia Schaedle, David (Leigh) and Emily Conners, Gilmore, Rebecca and Virginia Conners, Betsy, Will, John and Eleanor Goldin, Joseph, Haden, Davis and Robert Conners, and Sarah and Andy Murphree, and his great-grandchildren, Roby and Jake Ripley, Ginger and Crockett Pitts, and Mason and John Conners. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and brothers and sisters-in-law. The family would like to thank the many people that contributed to making the last years of our Dad's life so rich in friendship and love. A special thanks to his caregivers, Gloria Lavender, Diane Holt, Edith Tuck and Andreka Lanier, and the St. Henry's team of Eucharistic Ministers. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Father Ryan High School, 700 Norwood Drive, Nashville, TN 37214; Saint Henry's Catholic Church, 6401 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205; or the charity of one's choice. The family will receive friends at St. Henry Catholic Church on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the Funeral Mass to follow at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. MARSHALL DONNELLY COMBS, (615) 327-1111.