Obituary of John H. Connell

                                                                             John Henry Connell
                                                                   Aug. 28, 1968 - Aug. 22, 2023

John Connell, a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, and Maplewood NJ resident passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, just days shy of his 55th birthday.
 

A genuine nice guy, born and raised on Staten Island, John attended Port Richmond HS, where he was a standout basketball player for the varsity team of the 80’s. At six-foot-nine, he was one of the tallest kids in high school on the island.
 

Despite his towering height, John managed somehow to leave everyone he met with the impression they and he

were on the same level. Chalk it up to his warm and welcoming demeanor. John’s willingness to participate made him a phenomenal husband of almost 25 years, an employee at Prism Digital Communications, and a father, uncle, coach, and amateur car mechanic.
 

A graduate of St. Peter’s University, John played Division One basketball in both his junior and senior years there. He was part of the squad that took St. Peter’s to its first ever NCAA tournament in the 1990-1991 season. He remained active in basketball after college, playing the local league circuit on Staten Island and the Jersey Shore. He also had a gig playing for the Washington Generals, the exhibition team the Harlem Globetrotters loved to beat.
 

Following in the footsteps of his late father Bob, John was an active member and past master of Staten Island Masonic Lodge #66. He is survived by his beloved wife, Rosemary, their children, Jay and Leah, his siblings Bobby and Karen and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 505 Watchogue Rd., Staten Island, on Wednesday, August 30 at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity in memory of   John H. Connell.