Thomas Michael "Slo" Connellan--photo 29

Thomas Connellan Obituary Thomas M. Connellan 1960 - 2016 HILLSDALE, New Jersey - Born April 7, 1960, in Houlton, to James and Joan Connellan, Tom passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016. Tom was a sensitive and loving man, loyal to his many friends and beloved by all who knew him. He had many passions, not least of which were his wife, Josephine (neé Zitaglio); his two sons, James "Mac" McDavitt and Dylan Michael Connellan; as well as his parents and his siblings, Annie Edwards, Elizabeth Smith and Peter Connellan. Tom, known as "Slo" to his many friends, was graduated from Waterville High School and matriculated at the University of Maine at Orono, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history. At UMO, Tom's accepting and relaxed nature drew many lifelong friends to him. In fact, Tom never made a friend who wasn't a lifelong friend, and he worked hard to maintain those relationships. A year spent studying in Canterbury, England, opened Tom to life's greater pleasures, nurturing a love of all things British and especially a love of fine wine and gourmet food. Tom was especially proud of his Irish heritage, happily blending his ancestry with that of his wife's large and loving Italian family. He loved all of the New England sports teams, and was lucky enough to see Big Papi play at Fenway in his last home game earlier this year, sharing the experience with his father and other family members. Tom also was passionate about his career, rising to the position of vice-president of claims with Aon Risk Services. He was recognized as an expert in risk management, and was sought after for his imaginative and thorough solutions to risk management problems. Tom was a parishioner at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, in Hillsdale, New Jersey, and a member of Elks Lodge #1562 of Westwood, through which he fulfilled his passion for service to others. Tom is survived by his parents, James and Joan Connellan, of Brunswick; his sister, Annie Edwards (Jeffrey), and children, Elizabeth, Nicholas and Matthew; his sister, Elizabeth (Gregory), and children, Aiden and Jameson; as well as stepchildren Myles (Danielle, daughter Aurora), and Evan (Tina); his brother, Peter (Kerri), and children, Patrick and Maura; his mother-in-law, Virginia; brothers-in-law, Frank and Michael Zitaglio; and sister-in-law, Frannie, and their families. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, in Hillsdale, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation www.jdrf.org Published by Central Maine on Dec. 1, 2016.