Phillip Hood Connolly
Retired Lt. Col. Phillip Hood Connolly, 82, of Bradenton, died Nov. 25. He was born in 1928 in Chevy Chase, Md.
Mr. Connolly attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served for 22 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. His tours of duty included postings to Alaska, Korea, Japan and Thailand, and multiple assignments at Fort George G. Meade. Following retirement from the Air Force in 1971, he served for 12 years in the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Connolly was married 56 years to Sibyl Ann Ringquist of Needham, Mass., who died in 2007.
As an avid reader, Mr. Connolly had a lifelong passion for U.S. military history and an encyclopedic knowledge of Native American history, art and culture. He was a founding member of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. In retirement, he was a founding board member of the Tingley Memorial Library in Bradenton Beach, and remained a board member until early 2008. He routinely volunteered at the library until two weeks before his death.
Mr. Connolly will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in spring 2011. Donations may be made to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Connolly is survived by four sons, Michael of Cambridge, Mass., Stephen of Baltimore, Md., Brian of Bradenton and Christopher of Barnstable, Mass., and their families, including two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Alice Jane Heltman
Alice Jane Heltman, 80, known to her friends and family as Jane, of Loveland, Ohio, and formerly of Anna Maria Island from 1990-2001, died Dec. 22.
A private service was held. Arrangements were by Strawser Funeral Home, Blue Ash, Ohio. Condolences may be made online at strawserfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 8041 Hosbrook Road, Cincinnati OH 45236, or to a charity of choice.
Mrs. Heltman is survived by her children, Vicki Sterling and husband Phil Friedman, Tom Flessa, Jeff and wife Gretchen; grandchildren: Nick and Sarah Flessa and Mitchell, Natalie and Kurt Heltrnan; sister Phyllis and husband George Mead; nieces Cathy and husband Scott Farkas and Chris and husband Ken Bowman.
Rick L. Holmes
Retired Master Sgt. Rick L. Holmes, U.S. Army, 61, died Dec. 24, at his home in Holmes Beach. He was born Aug. 22, 1949, in Richmond, Ind.
He was a 1967 graduate of Richmond High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1969. He retired Feb. 3, 1992, as a master sergeant.
Mr. Holmes was a past member of the Richmond Elks Country Club, the Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach and the American Legion.
All are welcome to attend a celebration of life from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach. A funeral service was held Dec. 30 in Richmond. Interment was to follow in Earlham Cemetery, with military rites delivered by a U.S. Army Honor Detachment and the Wayne County Honor Guard. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka KS 66675-8516.
Mr. Holmes is survived by his parents, Ralph and Naomi Holmes; children Melissa Burwick, David M., Rick L., Thomas, Philip, Angela and husband Edward Maxwell, and Jennifer Thorn; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters Vicki Ann and Rebecca Vosmeier; brother Michael; niece Elyse Vosmeier; nephews Brian, Adam and Ryan Vosmeier; great-niece Kiersta Sechrist; and Anna Maria Island friends, Pam Reynolds and Marshall Carlton.
John ‘Jack’ Manion
John “Jack” Manion died Dec. 24 in Ottawa, Ontario, after a lengthy battle with leukemia.
He and Sylvia, his wife of 56 years, were snowbirds on Anna Maria Island for 11 years and resided full-time on the Island for the past 20 years. They were active members of St. Bernard Catholic Church and enjoyed many community activities.
Mr. Manion was an avid golfer with the Can-Am group at Peridia Golf Club in Bradenton. His favorite spot was the Anna Maria City Pier.
Mr. Manion is survived by wife Sylvia; three sisters, Frances, Geraldine and Mary; four children, Laurie, Ian, Bruce and Douglas; and 10 grandchildren.
Hubert A. ‘Mitch’ Mitchell
Hubert A. “Mitch” Mitchell, 100, of Village Green in Bradenton and formerly of Anna Maria Island, died Dec. 11. He was born Aug. 15, 1910, in Everett, Mass.
Mr. Mitchell graduated from Everett High School and Bryant & Stratton School of Business. He retired in 1970 as president and treasurer of the Somerville (Mass.) Cooperative Bank. He served as president of Somerville Rotary Club, was treasurer of the Salvation Army Board of Trustees and the Somerville YMCA.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, at the Northwest Baptist Church of Bradenton. Memorial donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice & Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34238.
Mr. Mitchell is survived by wife Erna; daughter Lois and husband George Hoefler of Salem, Mass.; granddaughter Heidi Hoefler of Salem, Mass.; grandson Kurt and wife Jennifer Hoefler of Sandy, Utah; and two great-grandsons, Tucker and Harrison Tate of Utah.
Charles Weber Sr.
Charles Weber Sr. died Dec. 22. After serving time in World War II, he became master brewer of Schafer Brewery for many years. He retired in 1977 and moved to Bradenton Beach.
A gathering of relatives and friends was held Jan. 3 at the Imperial House condominium clubhouse, 611 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach.
Mr. Weber is survived by two sons, Charles and Robert, and step-son Fred.