From: Adam Connolly
To: Adam Connolly
Sent: Fri, Aug 20, 2010 8:24 pm
Subject: Harold Connolly Memorial
Dear Friends of the USATF Youth Hammer Throw Fund:
I am sad to report that my father, Harold Connolly, died this past Wednesday after losing consciousness and falling from a stationary bike during a workout at his gym. Details on his memorial service are below.
As you know, Harold devoted the last 10 years of his life to the development of the hammer throw at the youth level. Creating opportunities for boys and girls to learn and thrive at the sport he loved was an all-consuming passion. He did this not only by raising money for the USATF Youth Hammer Throw Fund, but also by promoting the event on hammerthrow.com, personally coaching scores of youth athletes across the country, mentoring coaches, organizing and attending clinics, lobbying the governing bodies for expanded competitive opportunities, and occasionally steamrolling bureaucrats who got in the way.
His goal was to put an American hammer thrower back on the Olympic medal stand by 2016. He did not live to see this. But with American throwers winning gold at the last 2 World Junior Championships, we have the momentum. In his blog post on Harold's passing, Walter Henning, the 2008 World Junior Champion, gives a great summary of how Harold helped "boost American hammer throwing to the dominating force it is today." http://walterhenning.blogspot.com/2010/08/worthy-reason-to-write-post.html
My Dad's obituaries will focus on his own athletic accomplishments, but I know he was most proud of the achievements of the youth athletes that he tutored over the past decade. And I know that he would be the first to say that none of it would have happened without you. On behalf of my Dad and the Connolly Family, please accept our heartfelt thanks for your friendship and support of the event that we love.
Harold would also be the first to note that the work is not over. For now we mourn, but I look forward to working with you on the path forward in the near future.
Very truly yours,
Adam Connolly
Harold Connolly Memorial Service
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.
St. John the Baptist
12319 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20904-2998
Reception to follow at the home of Anna and Adam Connolly
9215 Mintwood Street
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Memorial contributions may be made to USATF Youth Hammer Throw Fund and sent to the following address:
USATF Youth Hammer Throw Fund
c/o Robert Gourley
3 Greenville Drive
Barrington, RI 02806-1217
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