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<p><em>James Paul “Jim” Connell</em> was born on July 1, 1943 in Lexington, MA to James and Elizabeth Connell. Jim was the oldest of six. Growing up in Lexington, he was surrounded by history and had a lifelong love of learning. In fact, he loved the history of Lexington and the Revolutionary War so much so that in high school he founded a group to offer guided tours of the points of interest in the town, giving tourists the opportunity to relive the founding of the nation. He would guide people around Lexington and Concord, pointing out the various battle sites, and would even take them into Boston to tour the significant locations there such as Bunker Hill and the Old North Church. It was at this time that Jim developed an interest in the military and considered attending West Point. </p>
<p>After graduating from high school, Jim entered West Point. He loved sports and excelled on the Pistol Team and went on to be named an All-American during the 1964 season. He also loved music and sang in the Glee Club, helping form “The Headliners,” a folk group that made several recordings and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. </p>
<p>After graduation from the Academy, Jim attended Ranger School. He then went on to serve in Vietnam from November 1967 to November 1968 with the 3rd Battalion, 17th Air Cavalry and the 7th Battalion, 1st Cavalry. He served in various locations throughout the country and was awarded the Purple Heart after getting wounded in a Vietcong ambush. Upon returning from Vietnam, his unit was called upon to provide aid to Germany during the Czechoslovakian invasion. After returning home, he was assigned to Fort McNair in Washington, DC and attended a language school learning Thai. It was while he was in DC that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Since he could no longer serve in a combat unit, he accepted an assignment teaching ROTC at the University of Cincinnati (his wife’s family was living there at the time). While at the University of Cincinnati, Jim earned a master’s degree in public affairs. He was highly respected by his students and colleagues alike. He rose to the rank of major and received two Meritorious Service Medals and was discharged from the Army in 1977. </p>
<p>After leaving the Army, Jim began civilian life by joining Procter & Gamble in their Media Department. While at P&G, he led several important marketing projects, including launching P&G products in international media in Europe and Asia. During his tenure at P&G, he initiated a project to specifically target and recruit service academy graduates and did this for several years. He believed that these graduates were a perfect fit for P&G since they had leadership skills and demonstrated dedication to a common goal. The program was very successful and continues to this day. Jim’s dedication and hard work were evident, as he spent over 20 years leading numerous projects before retiring from P&G in 1998. Never the type to sit still, Jim “unretired” and took a job as facilities manager for the IRS in Cincinnati, which he enjoyed for several years until he decided it was time to truly be done working.</p>
<p>Jim believed that it was essential for him to give back to the community and serve those who were in need. He proudly served as president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society for several years in the 1980s and went on to serve on its board for several more years after that. His love of history led him to form the Green Township Historical Society in the early 1980s, with its goal being to preserve the history in that part of Cincinnati and to help instill a sense of civic pride in the residents. He also served on several other boards throughout his life and was always willing to contribute his time and advice.</p>
<p>Jim was also a very skilled woodworker and enjoyed any sort of home improvement project. He could often be found crafting bookcases or furniture and working on many other types of projects from a drawing he made or a picture he saw. His most challenging project was renovating “Brierly Manor,” the home he and his wife, Diane, lived in from 1978 to 2013. The home, which was built in 1832, needed a great deal of work, and the skills Jim learned at West Point allowed him to renovate each room and restore it to its original glory. </p>
<p>Jim was devoted to his family, always putting them first. He cherished his wife of 57 years, Diane, and their son, Jim, and daughter-in law, Julie. He was a loving grandfather to his four grandchildren: Caitlin, Colin, Claire, and Connor. He enjoyed spending time with them and would always have good conversations with them about how they were doing and was always ready to dispense grandfatherly advice when needed.</p>
<p>Jim passed suddenly on December 30, 2024. He was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH with full military honors. Although he is no longer with us on this Earth, we are all better for having known him, and we hope to see him again someday. Until then, Be Thou at Peace, Jim.</p>
<p><em>— James P. Connell II, Son</em></p>
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