George C. Connolly, Jr., Judge, Division “J”, Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans; born in New Orleans, Louisiana, July 20, 1928; son of George C. Connolly and Clare Walsh Connolly; married to Elinor Van Geffen, April 19, 1958, his loving and much loved wife, now deceased. He is survived by his brother Louis W. Connolly, his wife Marilyn Connolly and their four children and his deceased brother Joseph M. Connolly, his wife Brenda Connolly and their four children.
He is further survived by Michael O’Keefe, Jr. and his son Michael O’Keefe, III and his wife Juliet; as well as Erin Schmidt, her husband Eric Schmidt and their sons Talbot and Gordon, also Kevin Manning, Steven Manning, Terry Manning, his wife Tracie and their son Taylor, Keith Manning, his wife Suzie and their sons Devin and Brendan and Timothy Manning.
Graduate of Jesuit High School; A.B. Loyola University, New Orleans, 1947; LL.B. (Juris Doctor) 1950; BBA, 1952; admitted to the practice of law in Louisiana in 1950; formerly a member of the firm of Connolly, Nowalsky, Lambert & Labranche; member bar of Louisiana and Supreme Court of the United States; honorary member of New Orleans Bar Association and Blue Key National Honor Fraternity; New Orleans’ Jaycee’s Distinguished Service Award 1962 and 1963; Past President and member of Young Men’s Business Club, Civic Council of New Orleans, National Guard Officer’s Club of New Orleans; Tulane Newman Club Alumni; former Chairman of New Orleans Floral Trail and Board Member of International House; member of Chamber of Commerce; Navy League, Loyola Alumni Association, Knights of Columbus, National Guard Association of United States of Louisiana, Washington Artillery Association, Metropolitan New Orleans Safety Council, the Notaries Association, Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, The Judge Advocate General’s School Alumni Association, New Orleans Athletic Club, St. Thomas More Law Fraternity, former Lecturer, Loyola University; President, Louisiana Chapter of the National Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation; member, House of Delegates, Louisiana State Bar Association from Orleans Parish, 1968-69, 1960-0, appointed Commissioner of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans on January 27, 1961 by Judges of the Civil District Court, named Judge Ad Hoc in 1968 and served until appointment as Judge, Division “J”, Civil District Court by Hon. John J. McKeithen, Governor, on July 9, 1970 ; Colonel, State Headquarters , Louisiana National Guard; graduate of U.S. Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, The Judge Advocate General School, Charlottesville, Virginia, and on August 1, 1970 from the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
He was active in politics, several organizations and social clubs and several carnival organizations such as Bacchus, Bards of Bohemia and Iris. He served on the Civil District Court for 37 years.
Judge Connolly enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard and assigned to the 141st Field Artillery Battalion, better known as the “Washington Artillery”. His military service extended for 37 years. He was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal, The Selective Service Award while serving as Director of Selective Service for the State of Louisiana. He was a member of the Louisiana National Guard for 37 years. He coauthored The History of the Courts in the Parish of Orleans with Walter H. Hamlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the State of Louisiana, to commemorate the Civil District Court’s many years of under the French, Spanish and English rules of law in Louisiana.
Judge Connolly was admitted before the Supreme Court of the United States. His certificate was issued on May 6, 1968 and reads as follows; “That George C. Connolly, Jr. of New Orleans, State of Illinois”. This error was corrected at a later date when he received a duplicate certificate from the United States Supreme Court reciting “George C. Connolly, Jr. of New Orleans, State of Louisiana”.
While Judge Connolly was on the Bench of the Orleans Parish Civil District Court, the court scored first among twenty-three major cities in affording a speedy trial to citizens involved in cases conducted by the National Center of State Judges and the National Conference of Metropolitan Courts.
Not withstanding his countless accomplishments, many of his closes friends will remember him most for his perfect, “not too sweet”, Old fashions.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church 6666 Spanish Fort Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation will be held prior to the services beginning at 9:00 a.m. To view and sign the family guestbook please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com
