John William Connally,78, died on August 24 at Riddle Hospital in Media after a long illness.

John was the youngest of 5 children, after Tom, Mary, Anne, and Winnie, born and brought up in Chester, PA by Winifred Campbell and Thomas Joseph Connally.

John graduated from St James Boys High School, received his BS from St. Joseph's University in 1964, then served in US Army in Panama from 1964-1966.  After working in the food retail industry for many years, he met and in 1982 married Elizabeth Ann Gilhool at Old Saint Joseph's Church in Philadelphia.

After living in Center City for several years, the Connallys moved to Bakersfield California in 1996 where Beth worked as Health Services Administrator. John enthusiastically undertook the Master's Degree program in history at University of California, Bakersfield.  He earned an MS in American History in 1999, then taught there full-time until they returned to the Philadelphia area.

Beth and John lived happily for many years in Swarthmore.  He taught American History as an Adjunct Professor at his alma mater, St. Joseph's University from 2002 to 2009, then at Widener University until he retired from teaching in 2015. He delighted his students by using many significant movies in the syllabi for his classes.

John was an old-fashioned gentleman, with a gentle, loving spirit.  He had a passion for history, classic movies and mysteries and was a long-suffering fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, Sixers and Eagles, always believing "they would pull it out in the end".  He loved discussing politics, history and movies connecting eagerly with everyone happily engaged with him.  He had a rollicking sense of humor and, with his sister Winnie, would regale all with fun and laughter at family parties.

John was treasured and dearly loved by his family and friends for his kindness and wit, his interest in and support of each family member's discoveries and adventures, especially nieces and nephews, and for just being a grand human being.

He is survived by his loving wife Beth Gilhool Connally, sister-in law Gillian Gilhool (d. Thomas Gilhool), nieces and nephews: Kathleen Connally, TP Connally, Bridget Gilhool (Don Bonsteel) and Nicholas Gilhool (Marian Bell) as well as five great-niece and nephews Isaac, Max, Erika, Milo and Benno .