Constance Pease McConnell
Constance Pease McConnell 86 died September 30 2003. She was born to Rollin M. and Lena Mason Pease in Evanston Illinois on August 10 1917 and came to Tucson in 1930 graduating from Tucson High School. She received a B.A. from the University of Arizona in 1938 and a M.S. from New York University in 1939. She began her career as assistant dean of women at Idaho State University spent many years as a community volunteer and homemaker and was the first director of volunteers at University Medical Center. In 1940 Connie married George McConnell who died in 1980. He was a teacher and administrator at Doolen Carson Rincon and Catalina. She served as president of the St. Luke's Home Board as an elder trustee and Women's Association president of Trinity Presbyterian Church as a member of the Tucson Festival Society board; chairman of the Symphony Ball; co-founder and board of Annual Community Messiah Sing-In. She had been a soprano soloist with the Phoenix Oratorio Society Greenwich Village Light Opera Desert Singing Guild Gilbert & Sullivan Theatre Enid Opera Co. Trinity Presbyterian Church for 35 years and the Junior League Follies. She had been an actress with the Corral Theater Tucson Little Theater Teatro de los Ninos. Connie served two terms on the National Board of the University of Arizona Alumni Association including a year as its Vice President. She was the recipient of the Ann-Eve Johnson Sustainer Award (Junior League of Tucson) Opera Guild plaque for service and named an Honorary Life Member. The 1997 Messiah Sing-In was dedicated to her. In 2001 she was named to the Tucson High Badger Hall of Fame. She was a member of Chapter B of P.E.O. College organizations included Alpha Phi Mortar Board Sigma Alpha Iota National College Players. Connie was a paradigm of optimism joy and graciousness to all who knew and loved her.