Patrick John Connolly, 64, died at residence in Bryn Mawr, PA on February 22, 2015 after a brief illness and residency at the Quadrangle in Haverford. Mr. Connolly was born on December 10, 1950 in Scranton, Pennsylvania and is predeceased by his father John Patrick Connolly and mother Mary (nee Harrity) Connolly. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Rita Buckley Connolly. She and close friends were with him at his passing.

A native of Scranton, PA, Mr. Connolly graduated in 1968 from Scranton Preparatory School, a Jesuit college preparatory school, distinguished by its commitment to competence, conscience and compassion. Mr. Connolly is a 1972 graduate of the Jesuit University of Scranton where he completed a major in Greek/Latin and political science and a 1975 graduate of Marywood University where he attained a master's degree in public administration.

A love of government and politics – motivated by President John F. Kennedy's national call to public service – steered Connolly to years of active involvement in local, state and federal Democratic Party electoral campaigns. His early professional career included appointments as the Deputy Controller, City of Scranton under former Mayor Eugene F. Hickey; Regional Director, Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Health, Education & Welfare under Secretary Joseph A. Califano; and Deputy Director, City of Philadelphia's Office of Housing & Community Development under former Mayor William J. Green.

Connolly is credited with orchestrating the enactment of Pennsylvania's first healthcare cost containment legislation despite an ardent and well-financed battle waged by the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania and renowned lobbyist Stephen R. Wojdak. Cherished friends from Scranton were a huge part of this and other achievements especially his devoted life-long friend and colleague William J. Nealon, Jr.

Connolly's later career was devoted to service at several non-profit organizations in three states including as Deputy Director, North City Congress (North Philadelphia); Executive Director, Kent Youth (Chestertown, Maryland); and Executive Director, Flatbush Development Corporation (Brooklyn, New York) working closely in Brooklyn with friend and colleague Deputy Director Daniel Schachter, Esquire.

Mr. Connolly concluded his professional life at Drexel University serving for eight years, largely under the celebrated tenure of President Constantine Papadakis. He is credited with raising millions for the University's academic departments and professional schools and mentoring a new generation of fund development professionals.

He will be remembered for his decency and generosity, competence and conscience, sharp wit and intelligence, and a great love of history, baseball and film.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday February 28, 10 AM at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 31 Pennswood Rd., Bryn Mawr PA. Interment will follow in SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Springfield, PA. Relatives and friends are invited to his Viewing on Friday from 7 to 9 PM at McConaghy Funeral Home, 328 W. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, PA or on Saturday from 9 to 10 AM at the Church.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, 301 Grant Street, Suite 900, Pittsburgh, PA. 15219, or, to the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, Media, PA 19063.