Legendary Boston philanthropist Jack Connors dies at 82

Jack Connors Jr., who made a fortune in advertising and went on to leave a legacy as one of Boston’s most prominent philanthropists, died at his Brookline home on Tuesday of cancer, The Boston Globe reports. He was 82.

According to his bio, Connors was a founding partner of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc., a full-service marketing communications company. Under his leadership, Hill Holliday evolved from a one-room shop founded in 1968 to one of the top 20 advertising firms in the U.S.

Connors was interested in philanthropic life in Greater Boston throughout his career, serving on boards and leading civic campaigns.

He was a major force behind initiatives such as the Campaign for Catholic Schools and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.

Connors also served as chairman of the Board of Directors of Partners HealthCare System (now Mass General Bringham) for 16 years and became chairman emeritus in July 2012. He served on the Boston College Board of Trustees (his alma mater) for over 30 years.

However, Camp Harbor View was arguably the charity closest to Connor’s heart, his bio says. When late Mayor Thomas Menino asked for help identifying a safe and enjoyable alternative for inner city boys and girls during the summer, Connor proposed raising enough money to build a summer camp on Long Island in Boston Harbor. Soon enough, Camp Harbor View was born.

When Boston magazine asked him last December what would make Boston better? He responded, “If the rich people cared about the poor people.”

“Will there ever be another Jack Connors? No, there will never be another Jack Connors,” former Boston mayor Marty Walsh told the Globe.

“No one can come close to replacing Jack Connors,” he said. “Every mayor can be followed, every president can be followed, but Jack was more than all of that. He was more than a leader in our community. He gave more in his life than he ever received.”

Connors worked tirelessly to address financial inequities in the city.

The Globe reported that he helped raise over $32 million during the pandemic for a City Hall-run fund to help those most affected by COVID-19. 

His efforts, the Globe said, harkened back to his advice of remembering who you are and where you are from. 

“I am a Boston guy. I am a homeboy,” he told the Globe in 2007. “I live less than two miles from the hospital where I was born. I live less than four miles from the house I was raised in. I live less than 10 miles from the high school I went to. I live four miles from the college I went to. I am a local.”

Connors was born in Boston and resided in Brookline, Massachusetts. He leaves behind his wife, Eileen, their daughter, three sons, and 13 grandchildren. 

The Globe reports a funeral Mass will be announced.