Paul Bernard Connors

age 89 of Halifax, NS died peacefully with family at his bedside on October 20 at 3:30 pm following a very brief illness. Born in Halifax he was the son of the late Charles Joseph and Zita May (Hayes) Connors. As a child he joined the St. Mary’s Boathouse where he began swimming lessons at age 5 and progressed into paddling. He competed in men’s war canoe and was coxswain for women’s war canoe. In his early 20’s he won a 1000 metre C1 race on Lake Banook. Paul was also a sailor and bought his own small sailboat in the early 50’s from a boat yard in Baddeck, NS. It was a snipe named “Pelican” and he spent many years racing and was a member at the Armdale Yacht Club (AYC) for decades even after he sold Pelican. He sailed in the Marblehead race twice and helped a friend sail their boat back from Florida via Bermuda. He continued to sail and race with friends at the AYC and took his children out sailing on many occasions. During the winters when there was no sailing, he played in the cribbage league at the AYC and won many trophies. Paul was also an avid water skier and downhill skier. There is a photo of him on display in the lodge at Ski Wentworth. He broke his leg twice at Wentworth.

Paul was an electrician and began his career in 1949 with Carter and Smith. He worked on projects in the Halifax Citadel historic fort and mounting navigation lights on water towers among many others. He completed his career with 30 years of employment for Air Canada at the Halifax International Airport.

Paul was married to Noreen (Rene) Hatt in 1961 until 1975. They bought a house in Fall River and had three children, Karen, Bernard, and Lisa. In 1980 he began a long relationship with Ruth Fleming that lasted until her death in 2016. Paul and Ruth took great advantage of his discounted air fare with Air Canada and flew to many places including Australia and China and had several cruise ship vacations. Paul was well known to be a man of few words but as he aged it became clear that he truly enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Paul is survived by his children Karen Connors (Stuart Althaus), Bernie (Kathy) Connors, Lisa (Ron) Bower; brothers Robert and Kenneth Connors; and five grandchildren, James and Liam Connors, Terence and Emma Johnson, and Jonathan Bower. Predeceased by his parents; first wife Rene (Hatt); second wife Ruth Fleming; sister Carol Connors, and brothers Gerald, Charles, Patrick, and Barry Connors.

Visitation from 1 -1:50pm with Memorial Service to follow at 2:00pm, Wednesday November 3rd at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS. Deacon Tom Smith officiating. A private internment for immediate family will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lower Sackville.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.