Stonehill is mourning the loss of a cherished alum and faculty member

By Maddi Achtyl

The Stonehill community is mourning the loss of Stonehill alum and library associate Jennifer Connelly ‘94 after she passed away this past Sunday, August 31, after a long, courageous battle against glioblastoma.

Connelly is remembered as a dedicated and hard-working faculty member at the MacPhadin Library, where she served as Access Service Associate for the past 15 years. She is survived by her husband, Christopher, and her three children.

“She was larger than life and a powerhouse worker. She filled every room she walked into,” said Uma Hiremath, the assistant director of MacPhaidin Library for Public Services.

Hiremath said their schedules did not overlap much, but when they did, Connelly’s radiating energy made her presence known.

Connelly graduated from Stonehill in 1994 with a degree in elementary education. After graduating, she worked at KinderCare Learning Centers for two years before returning to Stonehill in 1998 as a part-time overnight staff member at the MacPhadin Library, before eventually working full-time.

She was described as a valued member of the Stonehill community. In 2018, she received the Gaudete Medal for 20 years of dedicated service to the College, and in December 2024, she received the Richard “Dick” Grant Staff Award in special recognition of her service and commitment to excellence.

Her legacy at Stonehill extends far beyond her professional achievements; she will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to the community she loved, her colleagues said.