Frederick Reginald Conner

Apr 6, 1929 - Aug 1, 2014

Frederick R. Conner, “Ted” of Lafayette, CA and Nantucket, MA, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 1, 2014 at the age of 85.

Ted is predeceased by his wife Beatrice Lamens Conner, his parents Frederick R. Conner and Eva Marie Conner, sister Marie L. Murphy and brother Robert H. Conner.

Ted is lovingly remembered by his daughter Gail and son-in-law Bob Ward of Orinda CA, his son Frederick R. Conner, III and wife Janet of Hiram ME, and his son Steven B. Conner and wife Norma of Kingston, NH, his grandchildren, Rob Ward and wife Liz of Rockridge, CA, Matt Ward and wife Yolanda of San Francisco, CA, Rachael Conner of Hiram, ME, Teddy Conner of Portland, ME and great-granddaughter Mona Hamadto of Hiram, ME.

Ted was born in Lynn, MA on April 6, 1929. He attended Lynn High School and entered the United States Coast Guard in 1947 as a Radar Man. He was stationed on Nantucket Island where he met his future wife Beatrice Ceely. After relocating to Reading, MA, Ted worked for 22 years at AVCO Everett Research Laboratories where he was part of the Terminal Radiation Program team responsible for tracking the reentry of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). Ted traveled extensively in the Atlantic and Pacific Missile ranges including Cape Canaveral, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Ascension Island in the Atlantic Range and Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific. Ted was a member of the team of individuals responsible for the recovery of the first ICBM.

After retiring from AVCO Ted returned to Nantucket Island where he built a home on land owned by the Starbuck and Ceely families for generations. Ted also built a commercial scalloping boat. Ted scalloped into his late 70s becoming one of the oldest island scallopers. Ted and Bea volunteered time for the Boys and Girls Club of Nantucket and the Anglers Club annual clam bakes becoming known as Mr. and Mrs. Corn for preparing hundreds of ears of corn each year.

Ted’s hobbies included gardening, photography, astronomy and boating.

Ted was buried at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, CA. Condolences for the family may be offered online at [ForeverMissed.com/FrederickConner].