Centerport Man Killed in Upstate Snowboarding Accident

A Centerport man who was known to many in the surrounding communities was killed Saturday in a snowboarding accident at a resort in the Catskills, an upstate news publication reports.

Brian Conners, 25, was involved in an accident while snowboarding on a trail at the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Highmount at around 11 a.m., a Belleayre spokesperson told the Daily Freeman. Conners was snowboarding on the Wanatuska Trail when the accident occurred, the publication reports.

According to a Belleayre trail map, the Wanatuska Trail starts out as a black diamond (most difficult) and then becomes blue (more difficult.)

Conners was an assistant football coach at Smithtown High School East. He planned to start teaching next fall after earning his master's degree from Touro College, Newsday reported.

“His true love was . . . football, but even above that was really working with kids or young adults,” his father Michael Conners told Newsday. “He just truly loved life and played it to the fullest — and never forgot to be a good person.”

Harborfields High School, his alma mater, held a tribute in honor of Conners prior to the boys varsity basketball game Tuesday night.

Many went to Facebook to leave a tribute to Conners' life.

The Harborfields Booster Club wrote: "RIP Brian Conners, you sure left your mark on our community. You were a student, coach, friend and mentor to many...we know you will be looking down on us from heaven...Wishing your family and friends love, prayers and strength"

Several people left their condolences on Conners' funeral page on the M.A. Connell Funeral Home website:

The Miranda family wrote: "It is with a heavy heart that we send you our deepest sympathy. Brian was a wonderful young man who coached our son at Smithtown HS East. The guys loved him! We pray that you find some peace at this most difficult time and hope that in time you find some peace and comfort with his memories. May he rest in peace."

Visitation will be held at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, located at 934 New York Ave. in Huntington Station, on Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, located at 53 Prospect Road in Centerport, on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or to the Wounded Warrior Project.

The accident is under investigation by police.

Read more at the Daily Freeman here.

For Conners' funeral service and obituary information, go here.

Image of top of Wanatuska Trail via Yelp, credit to Chun M.