A Boy From Lawrence: The Collected Writings of Eugene. F. Connolly

Sally A. Connolly, editor
Sally A. Connolly; 2nd edition (2006)
ISBN 0977265315
Reviewed by Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (6/06)

Eugene Connelly was husband, father, son, brother, teacher, and very devout Catholic. This book is Dr. Connelly’s writings - some are notes on classes he taught, some are eulogies for friends, some are just remembrances, and some are the toasts he gave at his daughters’ wedding reception. Along with all his musings there are also a couple of eulogies from Dr. Connelly's funeral, one by one of his daughters and the other by his good friend, George Bailey.  

The beginning of the book is reminiscences of Connelly’s boyhood in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He talks about his home life and his friends. He also writes about his time teaching at Northern Essex Community College. He said of his profession "Teaching nourishes me. It also awes me." One summer he was diagnosed with a vocal cord irregularity, and Dr. Connelly could not speak. The summer speaking classes were very special to him and he did not want to give it up. So he decided to teach through notes and pantomime. Dr. Connelly was frustrated at not being able to talk and wondered how this experiment would work. Later a student wrote to him "As the first class ended and we were leaving, I shook Dr. Connelly's hand. He gave me a big smile and I smiled back. Walking to my car, I thought, 'This class is going to be a lot of fun.' " 

Even after he retired Dr. Connelly contacted several people to find out ways he could help in their efforts whether it was in seminars or wanting help the people of Rwanda. His daughter said of him “He passed along to all of us exactly what he lived for. He has given us a loving family and strong moral values, faith in God and the goodness of the world, a thirst for knowledge and love of learning, an appreciation of nature and humble amazement of the world we live in, and he taught us the importance of living meaningful lives and making the world a little better by our living.” 

Dr. Bailey said “Gene, through out your entire life, you never forgot that you were just a boy from Lawrence! You certainly showed what a boy from Lawrence could do!”

“A Boy From Lawrence” is a book of deep faith and love, for God, family and friends.

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