Jack Connors, Boston philanthropist, business leader, dies at 82

Jack Connors, a Boston philanthropist, advertising magnate and political powerbroker, died Tuesday of cancer, according to The Boston Globe.

His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from politicians to business and religious leaders.

“Massachusetts lost a champion today and I have lost a friend," Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said. "Jack Connors was a leader in business, but his most lasting legacy will come from his generosity and philanthropy. Jack spent his life trying to make Massachusetts and this country a fairer, more inclusive place - and he succeeded. From the creation of Camp Harbor View to his advocacy for education, health care, and community, Jack’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he transformed. We all owe Jack Connors an enormous debt of gratitude. My deepest condolences go to his wife, Eilleen, his children, his grandchildren, and his many devoted family members and friends.” 

Cardinal Sean O'Malley also issued a statement praising Connors' "life of civic leadership and Christian generosity."

"Jack Connors has gone to God and left us all with the legacy of a life lived in the service of others," he added. "To his wife Eileen, to his four children and their spouses, and his thirteen grandchildren I extend my prayers and consolation."

"The tributes to Jack’s legacy will undoubtably come from many sources, commending his leadership in the world of commerce, his vision of what a good society should be, and his seemingly endless generosity to others. When I first came as Archbishop of Boston, Jack offered his assistance, a gift which has been of enormous value to the Church and to me personally over the past twenty years."

"We have lost a great friend and a great leader of our common life in Greater Boston, but we are a better community of neighbors, friends, and citizens because he lived and worked among us for so long. May he rest in peace and may his legacy be continued."

Connors was one of the founders of the advertising firm Hill, Holiday, Connors, Cosmopulos, served on numerous boards and helped create Camp Harbor View, a summer program for middle-school kids from some of Boston's poorest neighborhoods.

He was also an advisor and fundraiser for some of the state's most prominent politicians, including Healey, former Massacusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, former Boston mayors Thomas Menino and Marty Walsh, and current Mayor Michelle Wu.

Connors said in a 2018 interview with the Boston Business Journal that when he looks back on his life, he feels that he “won the lottery.”

“There's nothing to indicate that anybody ever nominated me most likely to succeed,” he said in the interview. “And, so, I like to think that most of my life at the moment is helping people who could use the help.”

Connors leaves behind his wife, a daughter, and three sons, among other family members. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

Here are some other statements issued by public figures in the wake of Connors' death:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker

"A great man & a good friend to so many. Met him when I was 18 and he was 34 working on a fundraiser for the Big Brother Association. Hugs to his family."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift

"Shoes too big to fill - but a great model to aspire to as a leader, a Catholic & a family person. I was honored to work with him - that smile lit up a room (usually while you were agreeing to something you had no intention of saying yes to!)."

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren

"Jack Connors dedicated his life to looking out for families in Boston who were too often left behind. He was always focused on what more we can do to help others. His legacy will echo for generations."

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey

“When Jack and I met for lunch at McKenna’s in Dorchester a few weeks ago, we talked about the future. It was the day of the Boston Celtics championship duck boat parade, and we spent some time reminiscing about the greats – Russell, Bird, Havlicek. But we enjoyed more our talk of how great the Celtics would be in the seasons to come, how they would define the team for this and the next generation of fans and young players. That’s what Jack always did, he focused on the future, a future for Massachusetts and its families that would be healthier, brighter, and with more opportunity. Through his business achievements and philanthropic projects, through his vision, influence, and deep humanity, Jack Connors defined the economic, educational, political, and health care landscape of Boston and the entire Commonwealth."

“Our lunch continued over news of Boston College, with both of us excited for a new chapter for our alma mater that educated us as blue-collar kids. We talked about how fortunate we both are, the help he received from his father for that first investment in Hill-Holliday, his family’s unending love, which in turn fueled his love for the communities in which he lived, worked, and served. More than anything, Jack talked about how proud he was of Camp Harbor View and the impacts it would have on countless children and vulnerable families, putting them on a pathway to a more hopeful future."

“Jack Connors knew what it meant to take what little you had or as much as you earned and dedicate it to making a better community and a better world. And that is exactly what he did. His legacy of service, of excellence, of investment, of compassion will forever be remembered because it is woven into the fabric of the future of the children, families, and organizations of Boston and Massachusetts. Jack and I spoke by phone last week, and I thanked him for everything. My heart and prayers go out to his wife Eileen and the entire Connors family.”

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell

"Jack Connors understood better than most that the measure of a person isn't just their accomplishments but their willingness to use their success to uplift others."

Camp Harbor View CEO Sharon McNally

"It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our Co-Founder and Chairman, Jack Connors, Jr., who died this morning from pancreatic cancer. Giving proof to his claim that he would never stop working for the causes that meant so much to him, it was only on June 8th at the Camp Harbor View Beach Ball that he announced a record-breaking fundraising total of $13.4M, most of which was Jack’s own handiwork. He turned 82 the following day."

"When then-Boston Mayor Tom Menino asked Jack in 2006 for help with keeping middle school kids safe and happy in the summer, Jack tapped into his creativity and resourcefulness to imagine a beautiful summer day camp on an island in Boston Harbor, and Camp Harbor View was born."

"Jack envisioned a pristine campus where kids could swim, sail, play sports, make new friends, and see a future filled with possibilities. As you know, that vision is now a reality."

"Every day since the camp opened in July of 2007, Jack has challenged all of us to be imaginative, and to work hard to partner with kids and families in the Camp Harbor View community. He has been relentless in his drive to provide us with all the resources necessary to do our work, and as a result, Camp Harbor View has become much more than a summer camp."

"It’s hard to imagine Camp Harbor View (or in fact, Boston) without Jack, but our promise to him and to you is that we will endure, we will thrive, and we will maintain Jack’s standards of excellence in everything we do. He would expect nothing less of us and we will never let him down."

New England Council President/CEO Jim Brett

"I am profoundly saddened by the loss of my dear friend Jack Connors, a former New Englander of the Year. His remarkable generosity and leadership have made a lasting impact on our region. My deepest sympathies go out to his family."

George Regan of Regan Communications Group

"Jack Connors was a giant in the business world, but I know that to him, his greatest accomplishments were the countless and selfless acts of kindness and generosity he bestowed upon people and organizations from all corners who needed some help, including me. He built one of Boston’s greatest companies, but as a man of faith, he never forgot that what was most important was the teaching to love one another as his Lord had loved him. He never stood taller than when he stooped to help a disadvantaged child or an old friend in need, and he did so without seeking credit or publicity. Jack truly embodied what Lincoln called “the better Angels of our nature,” and ours is a lesser world without him."

RIZE Massachusetts President/CEO Julie Burns

"It is hard to imagine a Boston without Jack Connors, given the tremendous role he played in the city’s philanthropic, business, and civic communities. He was absolutely central to the founding of RIZE Massachusetts, as he brought together key government and business leaders to form an organization with the singular mission of ending the overdose epidemic and the stigma that accompanies substance use disorder. We will miss his tremendous contribution to our organization, his dedicated board service, and his kindness, grace, and good humor, which filled every room he occupied.  We offer our deepest sympathies to Jack’s family and friends, and every institution that he touched. His loss is enormous."

Former Mass Bio CEO Bob Coughlin

"The world has lost a true hero. Jack Connors represented everything good about Boston. He was family and a friend, but more importantly, he played a major role in every important decision that I have made in my life. Rest easy in paradise knowing you changed the world."

Celebrity chef Steve DiFillippo

"Rip jack Connors. You taught all of us how to truly be a philanthropist person. You were so special to so many people. Sad day."