Connolly’s presence made NL a better place
A nd so the conscience of the 06320 is retired now, off the Florida soon. The role model who has pushed so many of us — kids and adults alike — toward the right choices, who always makes us believe in tomorrow no matter how craptasic today might be, gets to put her feet up, do what she wants now and walk her dog, Cooper. Sue, we're gonna miss ya. All of us. Any of us who have been in your company and benefited from your wisdom.
Indeed. The best of New London, Sue Connolly — a prominent attorney but an even more prominent voice for the voiceless — is leaving us for sunny Florida. Although (and cue Handel's Hallelujah Chorus here) she promises many returns.
Not sure where to begin. Other than my regret that I've only gotten to know her over the past few months. Maybe, though, you start here with Sue Connolly: If you want to make the right choice, just look at whatever she happens to be doing at the time.
Connolly has been a monument to inclusiveness in a city whose inhabitants don't always sing from the same page of the hymn book. She's a former member of the Board of Education and a de facto union representative for the kids. She has organized “scarf bombs,” collecting and handing out scarves in the dead of winter for those in need. She has collected socks for the same purpose. Her diligence has helped fund several community art programs that benefit the kids, including Writers Block, Impact Youth, the TigerEye dance team and programs at the Hygienic.
And she's one of the faces of the New London Youth Talent Show, which may be the most significant single event that happens in the city all year. Why? Because it reinforces the message Connolly knows our kids need to hear frequently: We believe in you. Heck, she's so comfortable with the kids that she's even rapped for them under her stage name: T-Huggy.
She's been a beacon for me, helping me through a number of personal issues with wisdom and sometimes brutal honesty, all couched with gentle humor. Full disclosure: My life has been a little unsteady in recent months. And faithfully, there is Sue. For everything. Know what she's taught me? Be patient. Believe in yourself. Listen to your heart. I found this quote because of her. It's on my refrigerator: “Logic is trying to trick your mind into believing what your heart says is a lie. That's why you scream it loud and clear: Your heart knows what your mind won't always hear.”
Her job as an attorney required more time than she has. Yet that never prevented her from living a life that always extended beyond her self-interests. She organized the “scarf bomb” from the winter, where about 1,000 of them were sprinkled throughout the city with the following message attached: “If you are stuck out in the cold, take me to keep warm.”
Even people she's never met are going to miss her. Like the ones who kept warm with scarves and socks. They kept warm because she dared to care. She makes me want to be better and do better. I can't think of a better legacy.
Happily, Sue says she'll be returning to the Hub Of The Universe frequently. Hopefully, her husband, John, will be with her on a few trips. You could sell tickets listening to them argue politics.
Not that I would ever speak on behalf of a whole city, but ... I'm going to speak on behalf of a whole city: Thank you, Sue Connolly. New London is better because you've been in it.
We'll always leave the light on for you.
Happy retirement. This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro