In Memoriam: Jack Connors Jr.

Dear Connors Center Colleagues and Friends,

As many of you have likely heard, our dear friend Jack Connors Jr., passed away earlier this week at the age of 82. We lost a champion for women’s health, a visionary leader that recognized the importance of advancing the health of women via both clinical care and research at a time when women were scarcely considered by the scientific and medical community.

In the early 2000s, Jack and his wife Eileen made pioneering gifts to establish the Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology and the Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women and Newborns (CWN), named after Jack’s late mother, Mary Horrigan Connors. Jack and Eileen’s incredible generosity and advocacy have allowed us to advance research to improve the health of women and transform their care. Just a few months ago, Jack was thrilled to learn that we have a photo of his mother displayed in the Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology office space. The photo stands as a daily reminder of the Center’s mission, and Jack’s passion and advocacy for equity to improve the health of women. We will honor Jack’s legacy as we continue this critical work that was so important to him.

Words can’t fully describe Jack’s incredible spirit and the vast legacy he will leave behind. We feel fortunate to have known Jack and will seek to imbue his compassion and wisdom into our work. He was an incredible leader, mentor and advocate and we will miss him terribly.

Our deepest condolences to his wife Eileen, his children and grandchildren during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc
Executive Director,
Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology

Primavera Spagnolo, MD, PhD
Associate Director,
Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology

On behalf of Faculty and Staff of the Connors Center