Mass. leaders remember philanthropist Jack Connors

Connors, who rose to prominence in the advertising business, was a leading philanthropist in Boston for decades.

Jack Connors, a titanic Boston figure who made a fortune in advertising before becoming one of the city’s notable philanthropists and powerbrokers, died Tuesday at the age of 82. Connors died at his Brookline home after battling cancer, The Boston Globe reported.

After co-founding Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos and growing it into one of the country’s largest ad firms, he helped raise hundreds of millions for a variety of philanthropic efforts. Connors served on the Boston College Board of Trustees for more than 30 years and as chairman of the Board of Directors of Partners HealthCare System (now Mass General Bringham) for 16 years. He was a major behind-the-scenes force behind the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. He teamed up with former Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino to create Camp Harbor View, which began as a summer destination for middle-school children from low-income households and grew into a leading antipoverty agency.

Leaders in Boston and around Massachusetts are voicing their admiration for Connors and the legacy he leaves behind.

OBITUARY:

Mass. Gov. Maura Healey

“Massachusetts lost a champion today and I have lost a friend. 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, Eileen, his children, his grandchildren, and his many devoted family members and friends.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

“Jack’s legacy lives in his beloved family, in his expansive philanthropic footprint — most especially the young people and families of Camp Harborview — and the countless people from all walks of life who he has quietly helped since his childhood days in Roslindale. His generosity of spirit and true love for all people is evident in the countless interactions with those who could do nothing for him but for whom he moved mountains to provide access to opportunity. His core blend of generosity, kindness, and humility is magic. Boston is undoubtedly changed forever because of his vision and commitment. There simply is no one like him, and I am so grateful for the wisdom he shared with me over the years. I will carry it with me always.”

CEO and President of Mass General Brigham Dr. Anne Klibanski

“It is impossible to overstate the impact Jack Connors had, not only on Mass General Brigham, but on the city of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and patients world-wide.

“His dream for what our system can achieve on behalf of our patients and our people, and in service to our mission, has always been bold and inspiring, as was his uncanny ability to understand and navigate any challenges that might lie ahead. Jack saw the best in all people and had a profound impact on their lives and well-being. His vision, commitment, and passion for the well-being of our patients and the community beyond our healthcare system is the legacy he leaves us and will guide us for generations to come.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family, especially Eileen, his children, and grandchildren. Jack meant so much to so many people, as a mentor, a friend and a steadfast source of truth. Our patients are the greatest beneficiaries of his legacy.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

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.”

Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh

“Will there ever be another Jack Connors? No, there will never be another Jack Connors,” Walsh told the Globe.

“No one can come close to replacing Jack Connors,” Walsh said. “Every mayor can be followed, every president can be followed, but Jack was more than all of that. He was more than a leader in our community. He gave more in his life than he ever received.”

Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate

The co-founder of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, Ambassador Victoria Reggie Kennedy, said today, “We mourn the loss of a giant, a friend, and one of the most generous and decent human beings any of us has ever known. Jack was a very special person who demonstrated through his own life what it means to be a civic leader, what it means to be an inspiring leader, and we will miss him dearly.”

In May 2008, Senator Kennedy asked Jack to help with the establishment of the Institute because he knew that when you needed something done in Boston, you needed Jack Connors. Because of Jack’s work the Institute has had the foundation necessary to take us from a germ of an idea to a dynamic hub of civic engagement for students and the public. The Institute extends our deepest condolences to Eileen Connors and the entire Connors family.

Regan Communications Group Chairman George K. Regan

“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.”

Ira Jackson, research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Business and Government

“Jack defined leadership and good citizenship. He was the matchmaker behind Partners (now MGHB), the catalyst behind Romney-Care which was the model for Obama-Care, the muscle behind growing BC’s endowment by billions, and the creator and champion of Camp Harbor View, where half of the thousands of inner city kids it serves had never before seen the ocean. What an incredible and unforgettable force of nature and force for good. I treasured our 50 year friendship and salute his amazing, inspiring legacy. RIP, Dear Jack.”

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.”