Thomas and Mary McConnell
Thomas and Mary McConnell are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
Thomas McConnell and the former Mary Sue Lane were married Jan. 29, 1956, in Mary’s parents home in Edgerton, Wisconsin.
After Tom completed five years of post-doctoral training, he stayed at the University of New Mexico Department of Pathology, rising from instructor and assistant professor, Director of UNMH Clinical Laboratories, Chief of UNMH Pathology, associate professor and full professor, until his retirement in 1997 as
professor emeritus. His final 10 years with UNM was to pursue studies in genetics and cancer genetics, as well as problem-based learning.
Mary was a stay-athome mom volunteering on the Sandia Peak Ski Patrol, working with Navajo students at Valle Vista Elementary, being a den mother of Cub Scouts, and never missing a school event for all three kids. She also worked as a cytopathology technician. She was also a crew chief for the state flag hot air balloon for 34 years.
Their children are, Thomas II and Susan, 10 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. They had a quiet lunch at home watching “Gunsmoke” reruns.