James E Connors Ii

James E. Connors, II, 75 of Cumberland Head passed away peacefully at home in the early hours of June 1, 2020 after a year long courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Providence, RI on July 7, 1944, the son of James E. Connors and Mary F. Hanley Connors. Jim was a 1962 graduate of Portsmouth Priory School and URI class of 1966 with a degree in biology. Jim was determined to serve his country and when he failed the Army draft physical because of his eyesight, he memorized the eye chart and got accepted into Navy OCS in Newport. They never figured it out and Jim went on to submarine school in Groton CT. When he graduated in 1966, he was assigned to the diesel sub USS Irex(SS482) where he served till 1969, cruising the waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, chasing Russians, as he often said. In 1968, Jim married his college sweetheart, Alice Bousquet. After the Navy, Jim landed a job with Merck and he and Alice moved to Plattsburgh. Jim and Alice lived In Peru for 30 years and moved to Cumberland Head on retirement to their dream house on the lake. Jim was an avid sailor and racer, a winner of the Mayor’s Cup twice and also the Regatta for Lake Champlain. He was the Commodore of The Valcour Sailing Club. Jim also loved working with numbers, working avidly as a tax preparer at HR Block and volunteering for AARP. He was a 100 ton Coast Guard master.
Jim was predeceased by his parents and brother, Jack. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Alice, his nephew Tom of Newport, RI, sister-in law Patricia Connors of Newport and cousin, Judy Costa and family of Swansea, MA. and his beloved feline friend Coco.
There will be a private service and interment
at St. Columba's Cemetery in Middletown RI for friends and family at 1 PM on Friday, June 5. Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to Elmore SPCA.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh. Online condolences are at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com