John M. Connelly, Sharon, passed away peacefully on Sunday (1-24-16) with his family by his side in UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was 71.

Mr. Connelly was born Oct. 2, 1944 in Pittsburgh to Dr. Michael E. and Marguerite L. Connelly, the second oldest of their eight children.

John graduated in 1962 from Sharon High School and attended Indiana State College, now Indiana University of Pennsylvania before enlisting in the U. S. Air Force, which included a two-year tour of duty in Spain.

A career car salesman, John worked at several dealerships in Sharon, Hermitage and

Warren, Ohio before officially retiring in 2014. During this tenure, he garnered many awards for outstanding salesmanship and service to his customers.

He was married Feb. 24, 1968 to Carol Middlesworth of York, PA. They had three children, Christopher, Patrick and Erica.

John was an avid sports fan. He loved going to his his grandchildren's sporting events, rarely missing their Little League and high school games. He was a lifetime

"Tiger" fan. Pirate and Steeler games were equally exciting. He also loved cars and NASCAR races. He enjoyed traveling and looked forward each spring to gardening and supplying family and friends with delicious tomatoes. A Favorite pastime was grilling out for holiday gatherings. He absolutely loved cooking big pancake breakfasts with all the trimmings for the whole family as well as plenty of friends.

He was a member of the American Legion and enjoyed Friday Bingo nights with his friends - and there were many. In his earlier years, he liked snow skiing in New York, and in summers, he often could be found on his boat at the Shenango Reservoir. John loved to dance. He and Carol had quite the dance moves-- particularly to music from the 50s and 60s.

A lifelong resident of Sharon, John was considered somewhat of a historian of his hometown and family, and usually expounded on this knowledge with a peppering of "ok" throughout his storytelling.

In addition to his wife Carol, surviving are two sons, Christopher and his wife, Lisa, Sharon; Patrick, Sharon; a daughter, Erica, Truckee, CA; five grandchildren, Lydia, Isaac, Ella, Grace and Ian Connelly all of Sharon.

Also surviving are four sisters, Mary Jane, Austin, TX; Marguerite Junior (Benjamin) Bissett, Mercer; PA, Katie (Paul) Henderson, Renton, WA; and Patricia (Ron) Zeedick, Denver, CO; three brothers, Dominic (Susan) St. Petersburg; FL; Michael (Sarah), Denver, CO; and James, Indiana, PA; his mother-in-law, Evelyn Middlesworth, Sharon; eight nieces and nine nephews and 12 great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday ( 1-29-16 ) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State St .Sharon.

Services: 10:00 a.m. Saturday ( 1-30-16 ) in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Donald E. Berdis, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima-St. Ann's Church officiating.