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Obituaries 11-16-10

LEO J. CONNOR SR.

BRIDPORT - Leo Jerome Connor Sr. of Bridport, Vermont died November 6, 2010.

    Leo was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, son of John Connor and Katherine Grady. He graduated from LaSalle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island, and from Providence College.

    Along with his lifetime devotion to farming, Leo was an elementary school teacher in his early years, and later co-founded the Connor Brothers Dairy, a milk bottling and delivery company in Smithfield, Rhode Island. He also was a surveyor and technician for the USDA Soil Conservation Service.

    After moving his family to Vermont in 1962, he ran the family farm in Bridport. He also was a counselor for the Vermont Farm Family Project, and later was named as Vermont Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture. While running his farm business full time, he also established an active real estate business that focused primarily on the sale and purchase of dairy farms throughout Vermont.

    Leo had a life-long interest in politics and ran for state senate from Addison County. He later ran for Lieutenant governor as the Democratic nominee in 1972.

    He served as a member of the MUHS school board, and was a long-time director of Eastern Milk Producers co-op.

Leo was a member of St. Bernadette Church in Bridport.

    He was pre-deceased by his wife Barbara, son Joseph, and grandchildren Erica and Benjamin.

    Leo is survived by  his twelve children, Leo (Jerry) Connor and his wife Cheryl of Bridport, Vermont, William Connor and his wife Linda of Bridport, Vermont, Michael Connor and his wife Linda of Shoreham, Vermont, Paul Connor and his wife Marion of Bridport, Vermont, Christopher Connor of Bridport, Vermont, Linda (Connor) Heitkamp and her husband David of Orwell, Vermont, Mary (Connor) Pratt and her husband Stan of Middlebury, Vermont, Barbara (Connor) Caldwell and her husband James of Chesterfield, Missouri, Elizabeth Connor of Bridport, Vermont, Peter Connor and his wife Tiama of Hartford, New York, Caroline (Connor) Martone and her husband John of Glen Cove, New York, and Jonathan Connor and his wife Maryann of Addison, Vermont, and one sister, Mary Schlemmer, of Smithfield, Rhode Island. He is also survived by fifty-one grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

    Leo will forever be remembered for his devotion to his family, his dedication to and love of nature, and his wisdom in defining a simple life filled with the riches of family and God.

    A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday November 10, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Middlebury with the Rev William R. Beaudin, pastor, as celebrant. Burial followed in St. Genevieve’s Cemetery in Shoreham.

    In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to Addison County Right to Life.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral home.
www.sandersonfuneralservice.com

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