Thomas Connell, World War II Veteran, Career Naval Officer Dies at 99

Courtesy of Reilly Bonner Funeral Home

Thomas Connell, 99, of Belmar died on Oct. 18 following a brief battle with cancer.

He was born in Jersey City on Dec. 15, 1915. He graduated in 1938 from St. Peter’s College, where he majored in English and was captain of the track team. After working for several years at Standard Oil, he joined the Navy prior to the outbreak of World War II. He was assigned to the USS Taylor, which participated in the war effort in the Pacific. He earned 14 stars, a naval citation, and was credited with the sinking of 2 enemy subs and the rescue of the Helena’s survivors.

He was a career naval officer who attended Line School at Annapolis and was later on the staff of the Navy War College. Tom was Executive Officer of the USS Henley and USS Kraus. Tom was also commander of several vessels, including the USS Roan which participated in Operation “Inland Sea,” the first passage of a naval force through the Saint Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes. The Roan also toured the Mediterranean with the Middle East Force traveling through the Suez Canal, cruising the Red Sea and visiting many Persian Gulf Ports.

He was XO of the NROTC unit at the University of Mississippi where he also earned a Masters of Arts in English Literature. After retirement from the Navy in 1964, CDR Connell taught English for two years at St. Rose High School and for eighteen years at Ocean County College.

Tom Connell lived a long and full life. He was a naval officer, an athlete, a scholar, an accomplished dancer and a beloved father, husband, brother and teacher. He loved to laugh, play golf, watch political shows and market news avidly. He was a devout Catholic and contributor to many charities.

He is survived by his sister Rose Azar, three of his five children, Kathleen Connell, Joan May and John Connell, and his five grandchildren, Lauren, Sean, Elisabeth, Thomas and Kevin. Those of us who loved him,” think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched for nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much”.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2015 at St. Rose Church in Belmar, NJ. Committal to follow at Saint Anne’s Cemetery , Wall Twp. for further information or to send condolences to the family, please visit Reilly Bonnerfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, we request donations be made to the following charities: Saint Joseph’s Indian School - stjo.org; Red Cloud Indian School - redcloudschool.org or Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth - scnj.org