James M. Connor ’69

James M. Connor, Las Vegas, NV, died March 7, 2024.

He was born in Rutland and graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy in 1965 before coming to Saint Michael’s and graduating with a degree in history. After teaching history at West Rutland High School from 1969-1970, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served from 1970-1974 with an honorable discharge. He was able to travel in the service and loved the time he spent in Japan and stationed on an island in the Pacific as a loran electronics (long-range navigation) technician. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

In 1975 he met his future wife, and they married in 1977. He opened Four Seasons Driving School in Vermont and taught people of all ages to drive. He ran the driving school until he went to work for the State of Vermont motor vehicle department as a license examiner. Jim’s motor vehicle job was in Bennington where he moved with his family in 1985.

While in Bennington he was a soccer coach and assistant baseball coach on his son’s teams. After 15 years in Bennington, Jim and his family returned to Rutland where he continued working for the State of Vermont as a license examiner, issuing commercial (CDL) and regular driver licenses to people of all ages.

Jim was an avid reader, especially books on history. He also was an avid skier, both downhill and cross country. Cross country was his favorite until his son started skiing. They skied downhill together at Brodie, Bromley, Stratton, Pico and Killington. The summers were spent camping and fishing on Lake Bomoseen — Jim with his son and nephew loved catching bass from their small fishing boat.

The week vacations were spent visiting ocean beaches on the east coast and stopping for interesting sites along the way. Once he retired from the State of Vermont, Jim and his wife moved to Las Vegas to join their son Andrew. Jim loved Las Vegas. He swam every day, walked, went to great shows and ate in delicious restaurants including buffets. He was not a gambler but liked to play video poker at the casinos. Jim made several new friends at the pools where he swam almost every day and relaxed reading his books.

Jim always put his wife and son first and was a dedicated, loving, kind and considerate husband and father, spending free time with them. Jim had a big heart and a great personality including a sense of humor. He was liked by all who met him.

Jim is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marianne, a son, two sisters, a brother and extended family.