It looks like you are viewing this on a mobile device. Would you like to use the mobile version? No thanks.
It looks like your device can support the full version of the site. Would you like to view that instead? No thanks.
Email to a friend Tweet This Send to Facebook Share on Google+
  Login
Patrick "Pat" Connolly
March 27, 1928 - November 27, 2012
Return to the Memorial Getting Started Administration Inbox  
Return to Getting Started  
Return to the Memorial Help Extend the Memorial Order a Keepsake Book  
Obituary Biography Eulogy Family Tree Life Stories Media Guestbook Contribute
<div itemprop="description"> <p> <b> Connolly, Patrick Joseph,&nbsp;LL.D.,&nbsp; </b> 84, of Dartmouth, well known broadcaster and journalist, passed away on November 27, 2012. Born in Sydney to the late Patrick Joseph (&ldquo;Joe&rdquo;) and Annie (MacIssac) Connolly, he graduated from Sydney Academy in l945, and embarked upon a long and celebrated career in journalism and broadcasting for the ensuing six decades, earning the nickname:&nbsp; &ldquo;The Dean of Maritime Sports&rdquo;. Pat&rsquo;s writing career began with the Cape Breton Post and the Halifax Chronicle Herald. His broadcasting career began by accident in 1948 when he accompanied a friend to an audition at CJCB Radio to provide moral support. Instead,&nbsp;he was ordered by the station owner to audition, despite his protests that he hadn&rsquo;t applied for the job. He was hired and worked with CJCB for several years before moving to CJCH Radio and the fledgling CBC Halifax Television in l954 as the CBC&rsquo;s first &ldquo;Sports Host&rdquo;. Pat was subsequently hired by CJCH television, before moving to Ontario to accept radio positions with McLean Hunter and the Great Lakes Broadcasting system from 1962&nbsp; <b> (to) </b> &nbsp;1967. He returned to Halifax in 1967 and subsequently worked for CFDR Radio and CHNS Radio in various on-air capacities. Over the following 23 years, Pat became known as the voice of American Hockey League teams such as the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, the Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Oilers, and Halifax Citadels, and more latterly as the&nbsp; <b> (public address announcer) </b> &nbsp;for the Halifax Mooseheads. During this time, Pat continued to write as a columnist with the Halifax-Chronicle Herald, the Halifax Daily News and numerous Canadian and American newspapers and publications. </p> <p> </p> <p> Over the years, Pat dedicated much of his time to numerous community, sports and charitable organizations. He served on both the Board of Governors and the Selection Committee of Canada&rsquo;s Sports Hall of Fame. From 1977 to 1997, he was Chairman of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame&rsquo;s Selection Committee. He served on the Board of Governors of Saint Mary&rsquo;s University and was involved with the Saint Mary&rsquo;s Sports Hall of Fame. He was elected to both the Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Sports Halls of Fame. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> Pat&rsquo;s expertise in journalism and sport, and his dedication to community causes has been recognized both within and outside his immediate community. In l988, the American Hockey League awarded him the James Ellery Trophy for outstanding radio broadcasting and distinguished service. He was chosen by the Atlanta, Georgia Dept. of Trade, Commerce and Industry to act as a representative Canadian journalist in previewing the Olympic Summer Games sites in Atlanta, prior to the opening of the Games. Within the local community, he was honored for his contributions by the Halifax Regional Municipality during its 250th&nbsp;Anniversary celebrations, and in 2002 was named a recipient of the Queen&rsquo;s Jubilee Medal for his longstanding work as a journalist and volunteer. In 2006 he was awarded an Honourary Doctorate of Civil Laws from Saint Mary&rsquo;s University, an institution for which he always held great admiration and affection. </p> <p> Amongst his media colleagues and members of the public with whom he came into contact, Pat was admired for his sense of dignity and respect for all. He believed that journalists were privileged to have a public platform, which could only be used to inform the public and to ask the questions they themselves would ask; but never to disparage anyone in the process. Pat was quick with a smile and compliment, and was a welcome speaker, master of ceremonies and feature writer because of his outstanding ability with the spoken and written word. </p> <p> </p> <p> Pat is survived by his wife of 50 years, Bette (Curtis), his son David and daughter in law Alison McEachern, and his two adored grandchildren, Alec and Brighid Connolly. He is also survived by his brother, Rev. Fr. Owen Connolly (Halifax), and his sisters Ann Culligan (Dartmouth); Barbara Matheson (Ottawa), Eileen Gillis (Sydney) and Louise Whitehead (Portland, Maine), his sisters-in-law Mary Connolly (Kitchener), Leah Connolly (Dartmouth), Marjorie Alexander (Rye, NY), Marilyn Skinner (Mississauga); brother-in-law Ken Curtis (Halifax) and his many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brothers John and Dennis, his sister Kaye , sister-in-law Mary Alexander, &nbsp;and brothers-in-law William (Billy) Curtis, Ray Matheson, Doane Curtis, Warner Curtis, Larry Whitehead, Patrick (Paddy) Gillis and Joe Culligan. </p> <p> Pat&rsquo;s family wishes to extend its deep gratitude to all of those friends and family who offered support during his illness. Additionally, Pat was so very fortunate to have the finest medical care from Drs. Rod Lee, Jonathan Trites, Derek Wilkie and as well as all of the incredible doctors , nurses and staff of the Nova Scotia Cancer Centre with whom he came in contact over the last ten years. At home, the VON were his &ldquo;angels of mercy&rdquo; and in the hospital, the nurses of 6B Victoria General site filled the same role, seeing him through to the end of his life, with gentle compassion. </p> <p> Cremation has occurred. Visitation will take place on Friday, November 30th at the Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main St., Dartmouth from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be held at St. Peter&rsquo;s Church , 10 Maple St, Dartmouth on Saturday, December 1st, at 11am, &nbsp;Rev. Fr. Owen Connolly officiating. &nbsp;In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Pat&rsquo;s memory to any of his favourite causes, such as KidSport Nova Scotia, Feeding Others of Dartmouth-Margaret House, Hope Cottage, or the VON. </p> <p> </p> </div>