Paul Andrew Connor
February 3, 1943 to November 8, 2022
Paul Andrew Connor, age 79, died peacefully at his home in Noank, Connecticut on November 8, 2022, surrounded by his family. He bravely battled ALS for two years.
Paul was born on February 3, 1943 to Marcellus and Elma Rooms Connor in Lakewood, Ohio. Paul attended Pine Point School for 7th and 8th grade, Suffield Academy for high school, and is a graduate of Colorado College. He kept in close touch with many of his school friends his entire life.
He married the love of his life Carol Maxwell on July 6, 1968. They met at Ram Island Yacht Club and for 54 years shared an amazing life and wonderful marriage full of sailing, racing, cruising, skiing, family holidays, travel, and adventures to see lighthouses far and wide. Family and friends always have been central to Paul and Carol’s life and happiness. Their two children, Whitney (49) and Morgan (46), both loved their father dearly and have been fortunate to live nearby their entire lives. Paul’s five grandchildren, Molly (16) and Avery (14) Peterson, and Maxwell (15), Lila (13), and Hayley (9) Connor loved their grandfather very much and called him Pop.
After college, Paul joined the family business, Ashawog River Mills, a fabric store in Mystic, working alongside his mother. They were well known for selling designer fabrics and fine woolens. In 1971, Paul and his brother-in-law Wes Maxwell started a restoration business, buying, restoring, and selling antique homes. In 1974, Paul, Wes, and John McGee formed the Steamboat Wharf Company and began a 40+ year partnership focused on transforming downtown Mystic. Their many business endeavors included building and operating the Steamboat Cafe, the Steamboat Inn, Mystic Condos, Stonington Landing Condos, Maxwelton Building stores and apartments, and many more. Bill Griffin joined the partnership to help develop the Whaler’s Inn and adjacent properties. Paul was not afraid to take risks. One of his favorite business projects was building the M/V Valiant, a 97-foot aluminum yacht that had five lovely staterooms. Paul and his partners had the Valiant built in a New Orleans’ shipyard in 2000-2001 and brought her North to be docked alongside the Steamboat Inn in Mystic. Paul’s positive impact on the community where he lived his entire life and the number of lives he influenced through his kindness and generosity will be remembered for generations.
Paul loved everything about boats, sailing, cruising, and racing. Together with Carol and their friends and family, he cruised thousands of miles and competed in more races than can be counted. He won the last race he sailed, just months before he passed away.
When not on the water, he loved being with his family and friends in the family’s farmhouse in Vermont, skiing, walking in the woods, having winter picnics, and gathering by the fire. He always put one last log on the fire to keep everyone together in the evenings.
Paul was a committed member and active volunteer at many yacht clubs and served as Commodore at Ram Island Yacht Club and Mystic River Mudheads, and Rear Commodore of the CCA (Cruising Club of America) Essex Station. He cared deeply about his community, serving as a long-time board member for H.O.P.E. (Housing Opportunities for People in New London) and leading the land acquisition efforts as a board member for GOSA (Groton Open Space Association).
Paul will be remembered by everyone as being brave, kind, generous, thoughtful, compassionate, patient, and one-of-a-kind. He is survived by his wife Carol, his children Whitney (husband Matthew Peterson) and Morgan (wife Suzanne), and his five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Mike Connor.
Thank you to Masonicare Hospice and Chris Curtin of Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS), and all of Paul’s family and friends who helped during his time with ALS.
In lieu of sending flowers, donations can be made to Mystic River Mudhead Sailing
Association - Eddie Maxwell Fund (www.mudhead.org/mudwho/eddie-maxwell/) or
GOSA (Groton Open Space Association www.gosaonline.org/donate/).
The Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, November 20th at 1pm at the Noank Baptist Church.