IN MEMORIAM
James E. Connelly, Oneonta, 64;
Lived For Years With Transplants
ONEONTA – James Edward Connolly, 64, who obtained a liver transplant in 1990 and a kidney transplant in 2011, passed away June 6, 2017, at Bassett Hospital.
He was born Sept. 17, 1952, in Mount Kisco, the son of Edward Patrick and Rose Agnes (McMahon) Connolly.
Jim was a Navy veteran and was a member of the American Legion in Richfield Springs. He enjoyed sitting and talking with people, friends or strangers. He loved when people would challenge his knowledge of sports.
After receiving his transplants, he always said he was put here on Earth to let the doctors experiment and learn new things. Having survived with transplants for decades, he encourages people to consider becoming organ donors.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Rebecca (Kniskern) Connolly of Oneonta; their children, Michael and Andrea Connolly of Pennsylvania, Jonathan and Alexandra Connolly of Florida, Megan Connolly and Angelo Carimando of Oneonta; grandchildren, Leah, Landon, Emma and Addison; parents-in-law, Wayne and Janet Kniskern of Oneonta; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Margaret Flaherty and a nephew, Edward Flaherty.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 16, at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta, NY.
The committal service with military honors will be private at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Street, Schuylerville, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Strong Memorial Hospital Transplant Center, (Kidney Allocation A03380) 300 East River Road, Box 270032, Rochester, NY 14627 or The Hope Lodge, 1120 South Goodman Street, Rochester, NY 14620.
Online condolences may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com