John Patrick Connolly

John Patrick Connolly, a Newport Native, died peacefully Tuesday, January 30, 2018 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Born December 2, 1937, he was the son of the late Deputy Police Chief John P. and Alice Dwyer Connolly.John was a graduate of St. Augustine's Elementary School, De LaSalle Academy, and Providence College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in educational administration. John was a teacher and coach before joining the Navy and graduating from the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport. A Naval lieutenant, John served in Vietnam as a boat group officer aboard an attack transport in the South China Sea, and was part of the U.S. Naval blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following combat, he was an instructor in navigation for the U.S. Naval Destroyer School in Newport.John earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a master's degree in pastoral counseling and therapy from St. Paul's College in Washington, D.C., where he was also a seminarian, and worked as a counselor at the Rhode Island Division of Retardation, the Rhode Island Drug Abuse Unit, and at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, retiring as Director of Training. John moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1992 and continued his work as a therapist.John was an active member of the Pride Center at Equality Park of South Florida and testified several times before the Rhode Island legislature on behalf of LGBTQ civil rights bills through the years. He loved his dogs, and enjoyed the theatre and music, traveling, skiing, photography, camping, canoeing, bicycling, and working out at the gym. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Edward A. Connolly and his wife Gert, of Pawtucket; his sister, Mary C. Connolly of Newport; and his brother-in-law, James E. Clancy of Tiverton. John also leaves a nephew and three nieces, two grand nieces, and two grand nephews. John was the brother of the late Alice C. Clancy of Tiverton. A celebration of John's life will be held at St. Joseph's Church, Broadway, Newport on Saturday, February 17, at 10 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. This will be followed by a graveside service at St. Columba's Cemetery, Middletown.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory to the Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, FL, 33305. Cemetery Details St. Columba's Catholic Cemetery Brown's Lane Middletown, RI, Mass of Christian Burial FEB 17. 10:30 AM St. Josephs Church 5 Mann Avenue Newport, RI, US, 02840