Leo G. Connors

Leo G. Connors, 83, of Hanover Township, Northampton County, passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown on April 13, 2011. Leo was married to Ann Seydel Connors for over 56 years. Leo was born in Mahanoy City, PA, on July 2, 1927 is predeceased by Ann, and by his fourth son, Leo. Leo is the son of Leo V. Connors and Regina Klitsch Connors.

Leo and Ann had ten children, twenty-two grandchildren and one great grand daughter, Leo always had the deepest love for Ann, his wife, and all his extensive family. He fondly remembers spending summers in the Poconos with his family where he would spend time on Main Lake beach sailing on the lake. There were many family ski trips to New England, Colorado, and Utah.

Leo graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1945. He served with honor in the 30th F. A. Battalion of the Seventh Army as a WWII veteran. An accounting degree graduate from St. Joseph's University in 1951, Leo worked in public accounting most of his career. He was an accountant for five years with Peat Marwick in Philadelphia, before becoming a CPA in 1956.

Leo continued his business career in the Lehigh valley and became the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Chrysler First, Inc., after previously serving as an executive for FinanceAmerica Corporation/General Acceptance Corporation. He also served as a member, and as Chairman, of the Financial Relations Committee of the American Financial Services Association. He was a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania CPA Institute PICPA, serving a term on its statewide Council. Other distinguishing accomplishments in his career include being a member of the American Institute of CPA's AICPA, the National Association of Accountants, and the Financial Executives Institute, serving a term as its local chapter President. He also served on the Planning Commission of Hanover Township.

During his four-decade executive career, he completed studies at the Aspen Institute, Columbia University Arden House International Program, the Chrysler Quality Institute, and the Dale Carnegie Public Speaking Course.

Leo was always committed to leveraging his business acumen to help his community. Several decades ago he was asked to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Sacred Heart Healthcare System and Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, where he served several terms as its chairman. More recently he completed a two-year term as its interim chairman and helped revitalize the financial performance of Sacred Heart Hospital. He was also a chairman of the board and president of the Partnership for Community Health, for most of its two-decade duration, where hospital executives worked to partner and coordinate their health facilities for the underserved in the Lehigh Valley.

Not content to just sit back and relax on the beach in the Poconos, he became the President of the Indian Mountain Lakes Civic Association Board. Although no one can recall him ever listening to music, other than his children's, he served for several decades on the Board of the Allentown Symphony. He was an officer in the Allentown Chapter of the Serra International that provides support to the vocation of the priesthood. As a Boy Scout Troop #74 Leader he was the hiking scout leader leading many hikes throughout the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. As part of his intense civic involvement he was a board member of the Allentown Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce. He served as a board member and officer of the Pastoral Institute that provided education, resources and training to the Catholic clergy and lay parishioners.

As a devout member of Notre Dame Catholic Church in Bethlehem, he was the first President of the Notre Dame School Association. He was the first Treasurer of the Notre Dame St. Vincent De Paul Conference that coordinated food and services to the poor and homeless, like the soup kitchen where he and Ann volunteered. He also was a founding member of the Stafore Estates Seniors Golf League and served as its league secretary.

Leo enjoyed a wonderful active healthy life that centered around his family and friends whether he was golfing, skiing, playing tennis, hosting bridge, playing chess, doing crossword puzzles at home, small boat sailing, and enjoying college basketball, especially the Philly, "Big Five" because his friends and several of his children attended Big Five schools. Two of his most thrilling moments in his life was sailing a catamaran off the west coast of Maui in a stiff ocean breeze, and the amazing "hole in one" that he scored at Shepherd Hills Golf Course in Allentown.

He is survived by his children, Kevin and his wife Kate and their daughters Shannon and Riley; Deirdre and her daughter Erin and son Daniel; Christopher and his wife Peggy and their sons Christopher and Thomas; Carl and his wife Linda and daughters, Caitlin, Colleen, Jordan, Lauren and Kristin; John and his daughters Paige, Rachael, and Alexa; Maura and her husband Greg and their son Brian and daughter Susan; Miriam and her husband Tim and sons Timmy and John and daughters Gillian and Gretchen; Stacey and her daughter Marie and son Jimmy; Matthew and his wife Debbie; great-grand-daughter Madelyn, is the daughter of Caitlin; siblings, Clair, Joe, Richie and Gerry.

Leo was preceded in death by his brother, Bobby.

Services: A viewing will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 1861 Catasauqua Rd. Bethlehem, PA 18017 from 9-10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM. Burial will be at Holy Saviour Cemetery in Bethlehem. Arrangements Connell Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers: Donations are kindly appreciated to the Leo. G. Connors Memorial Scholarship c/o ConnorsLaw, at 140 South Village Avenue, Suite 120, Exton, PA 19341, Phone: 610-524-2100 x 112. This is a yearly award to a Notre Dame of Bethlehem GS or Bethlehem Catholic HS alumni pursuing an accounting degree at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Please check to see if your company participates in matching charitable donations.