John Stanley McConnell

John Stanley McConnell, 69, of Stockholm, died peacefully on Friday, May 29, 2014, at his home after an extended illness. Born in Bellingham, WA, John moved with his family to the East Coast where he resided in several towns in upstate New York and the tri-state area before ultimately settling in Sussex County in 1976.

He attended Paul Smith’s College and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1967, where he served his country for 4 years, achieving the rank of Machinery Repairman 2nd Class. After an honorable discharge he graduated from Montclair State University and began a career in teaching industrial arts. He later returned to Montclair State and earned a Master's degree in technology education.

John taught at Butler High School and Wallkill Valley Regional High School for 33 years, retiring in June 2007. While at Wallkill he supervised the industrial arts, business and home economics departments and advised the Technology Student Association (TSA). John cared deeply for the integration of computers in the classroom and devoted much of his personal time to ensure the best possible technology was available to his students.

John dedicated his life to helping others, both through teaching and fellowship, and was a friend of Bill W. for 15 continuous years. He volunteered a great deal of time to judging students events at national TSA conferences. His gardens and flowerbeds were always inspiring to neighbors and the surrounding lake community and he sang in several community choirs.

The son of the late Robert Claude McConnell and the late Margaret (Edwards) McConnell, John is survived by his wife. Sandra Beth (MacElhinney) McConnell. to whom he was married for 44 years. He is also survived by his three sons, James of Hackettstown, N.J.; Andrew and wife, Kally, of Naperville, Ill.; Peter and wife, Jane, of Suzhou, China; his beloved grandchildren Colin and Mackenzie; his sister Mary Ann (McConnell) Rupert and husband, Doug, of Wilton, NH; and brother William McConnell and wife, Karen, of Bloomington, Ill.

Family and friends are invited Saturday, June 6, 1-4 p.m. to F. John Ramsey Funeral Home One Main St., Franklin, NJ 07416. A funeral service will follow immediately at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to John S. McConnell Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 758, Stockholm, NJ 07460. Proceeds will be used to fund a scholarship in his name.