Gloucester Alumni

GLOUCESTER — Austin W. Connors Jr., 69, husband of Diana (Mitchell) Connors, of Gloucester, died on Sunday evening, Feb. 21, 2010 at his home surrounded by his family.

Born in Gloucester on Sept. 25, 1940, son of the late Austin and Gladys (Clark) Connors.

Austin was part of the DNA of Cape Ann. As co-proprietor (along with his brother John) of a second generation family pharmacy, he is well known throughout the Cape for his deep commitment to the community. Austin is the longest standing board member of the Cape Ann YMCA.

He was a graduate of Gloucester High School and was noted for keeping everyone smiling. Austin received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1964. Austin then served in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1967, beginning at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, moving on to Newport, R.I. Naval Training Center, then Chelsea Naval Hospital. He was commissioned to the USS Forrestal CVA 59 in Vietnam and received recognition of his heroic action when the ship caught fire due to an explosion on its deck. He completed his naval career in Portsmouth, Va. in 1967.

Austin's dedication ran the full gamut - his family, his friends, his country and his church. He had a gift of seeing the best in everyone and was always concerned for those who were less fortunate. Austin was never judgmental and one of his God-given talents was the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life.

Austin's greatest joy in life came from the love of his family. In addition to his wife Diana, he is survived by his children, Cristin E. Connors and Austin W. Connors III of Gloucester; his brother, John C. Connors and wife Pauline (Rust) of Gloucester; his sisters, Elizabeth C. Mahoney and husband Edward of Vermont, Carol Linsky of Gloucester; sister-in-law, Carol Mitchell Pratt and husband Joseph of Gloucester; and many nieces and nephews.