Robert Tweed Connery

December 11, 1940 – November 29, 2022

Bob died comfortably at home in Denver, Colorado, on November 29, 2022, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Newcastle, Pennsylvania on December 11, 1940 to David and Marion Connery. He went to high school in Midland, Texas with his brothers, David and William Connery, and his two half-brothers, Bruce and Brad Connery. At Yale he was an honors major in American Studies and a ranking scholar. He lived in Calhoun College, was a member of St Anthony Hall and was on the Freshman and Varsity Swimming teams. Before graduation, he met the love of his life, Susan Wills (later known as Willow Connery) at a summer camp in New Hampshire.

He taught humanities at Emory University and was a legislative assistant for two summers to Congressman Albert H. Quie, who served on the House Education and Labor Committee, dealing with civil rights. He then attended Harvard Law School. He worked tirelessly in the field of environmental law. He was best known for his contribution to Keyes V. School District No. 1, a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court and enforced desegregation in Colorado schools. He served on the Management Committee bringing innovation in the operation of the firm and initiating the Sabbatical Program which has changed the lives of so many attorneys. He spent his entire law career at Holland and Hart until retiring in 2007. Bob was known for his human qualities of caring and as a proponent of justice. In our 50th Reunion Classbook, Bob wrote a long and impassioned essay about his two chief concerns in later life: equal educational opportunity and the environment, which included an outline of his important environmental work in Colorado.
For our class, Bob served as Class Agent and Reunion Gift Agent. He was also a loyal Class Councilor and Class Treasurer.

When not working, Robert enjoyed hiking, skiing, theater, scuba diving and travel. After retiring, Bob volunteered to become President of the Holland & Hart Foundation. By his friends, he was considered the most kind, caring and generous man around.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Willow Connery. He is survived by his two daughters, Kristin and Shannon Connery; his grandchildren, Taylor and Conner Stein, and Kylan Lints, and his significant other, Marta Rodeheffer.

 
— John Harger Stewart