Obituary of Dorothy Duarte Connors

Dorothy Duarte Sullivan Connors, 89, of Lake Placid, joined her husband on heaven's first tee, Wednesday, December 3, at home surrounded by her children. Dottie was born in East Providence, Rhode Island on June 21, 1925, the only daughter of golf professional and teacher, respectfully, James T. and Anna (Duarte) Sullivan. She attended Cranston High School, where she was the first girl to play on a boy's golf team. To make the team, all she had to do was beat the boys. She did. In 1947, Dottie graduated from Emerson College and began her career as a speech therapist. The following year, she married the man she met on the golf course and fell in love with, WWII veteran and Brown University graduate, Harold T. Connors, Jr., better known as "Rip". Together they had four children, played a tremendous amount of golf, excelled at bridge and enjoyed life. Dottie believed in being the best one could be at everything. It was this philosophy that made her an award winning seamstress, championship golfer, champion bridge player, a wonderful wife and amazing mother. Dottie believed in giving back to the community and she did so in Rhode Island at Meeting Street School, Hospice and Meals on Wheels. In Lake Placid, she was a fund-raising volunteer for North Country Life Flight for fifteen years. Dorothy Connors was predeceased by her husband, parents and brother, James T. Sullivan, Jr. She is survived by her children H. Thomas and Adele (Pierce) Connors, James and Julie (DeFranco) Connors, Mary Jane Connors, and Darcy Connors Allen and Richard Kipp; and adored grandchildren Leigh Anne Connors and James Sullivan Connors. A funeral mass will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church on Saturday, December 6 at 1:00 PM with Father John R. Yonkovig, Pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Country Life Flight at PO Box 994, Saranac Lake, NY 12983. Relatives and friends are invited to share a memory or leave online condolences at www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com .