Christopher A. Connolly

Saco

Christopher A. Connolly of Saco, Maine, known far and wide as Beamer Connolly, passed away on July 9, 2024, with his loving wife and daughter by his side. He was 72 years old. Beamer is the beloved husband of Mary (Magner) Connolly and the loving father of Kerry (Derek Domian) Connolly.

Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on March 16, 1952, Beamer is the son of the late John R. and Catherine (McGill) Connolly of Pittsfield, the grandson of the late C. Arthur and Ruth (Duba) McGill, also of Pittsfield, and the late John J. and Mary (Feeney) Connolly and Catherine (Baker) Connolly, of both Dingle, Co. Kerry Ireland, and of Pittsfield. He is also predeceased by his brothers Michael "Moses" Connolly and Timothy J. Connolly, niece Bridget Anderson, and nephew Shane Magner.

Beamer lived a charmed life surrounded by a wonderful family and great friends, many of whom he kept from childhood to this day. A gifted athlete, he excelled in basketball and baseball, and was a captain of his high school soccer team. Easy going, mischievous, with a distinctive Irish wit, Beamer loved life. He enjoyed its big events, but most appreciated the little moments. He could make anything fun.

A graduate of St. Joseph's Central High School in Pittsfield, where he met his wife and great love Mary, Beamer graduated with a B.S. from New Hampshire College and worked for a number of years at Purolator Courier. He later decided to be a (then unheard of) stay at home dad so he could support his daughter Kerry in every way possible – from ballet lessons, to first concerts, to chaperoning every conceivable class trip.  He was her favorite companion. He loved the Boston Red Sox and Celtics, the Kansas City Chiefs, Big East men's basketball, and the North Carolina Tar Heels. He never missed a game, usually with his family cheering along beside him. He was a scratch golfer, too, and a skilled handicapper of racehorses – right up until his very last days.

There is no way to overstate how much Beamer meant to everyone in his life. He will be forever missed by his wife Mary, daughter Kerry, son-in-law Derek Domian, brother Kevin Connolly and wife Roslyn, sister Mary Pat Anderson and daughter Meghan Holt, sister-in-law Donna (O'Neil) Connolly and sons Shaun and Mark Connolly, mother-in-law Marjorie Magner, brother-in-law Fran Magner (Patty Frangipane) and children Mike Magner and Diana Papalilo, brother-in-law Michael Magner and children Dustin, Jeremy and Mary Kate Magner, as well as many cousins and their families. Beamer will be remembered always, fondly and with a smile, in the stories shared by his family and friends. We were all blessed to be loved by him.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Cote Funeral Home, 87 James St., Saco.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00pm, Thursday, July 18, 2024 at St. Brendan Chapel, 40 Lester B. Orcutt Blvd., Biddeford Pool.  Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Biddeford. If friends desire, a donation may be made in Beamer's memory to the National Shrine of St. Jude at www.shrineofstjude.org

To view Beamer's memorial page or leave an online condolence, please visit www.cotefuneralhome.com