CONNOLLY, John Albrook, M.D.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 05/26/2006 John Albrook Connolly, M.D. died from melanoma, a form of skin cancer, at his home in Pinetop May 17, 2006 at the age of 48. John recently participated in a melanoma research project with the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland in his effort to fight the disease. The eldest child of John and Char Connolly, he was born June 25, 1957 in Sacramento, Calif. And raised in Boulder City, Nevada where he was a 1975 high school graduate. John's love of the outdoors developed at an early age. He spent much of his youth exploring the Mohave Desert and on sailing adventures in Lake Mead. In 1979, he graduated from Stanford University, his father's alma mater. Following in his father's footsteps, John received his medical degree, graduating near the top of his class, from the University of California in Irvine. He completed an orthopedic residency program at UCI in 1989. Because of his love of the western outdoors, John and his wife, Elizabeth moved to Pinetop where he started his medical practice. John was an accomplished and dedicated orthopedic surgeon in the White Mountains for the past 17 years. John enjoyed life to its fullest. His high energy and talent enabled him to accomplish a remarkable amount in 48 years. He was a devoted, loving husband and father as well as an avid traveler, adventurer and pilot. Activity defined John. He has a passion for sports. John would play tennis and basketball with family and friends and thrived on high-intensity sports including helicopter skiing, biking, kayaking, and rock climbing. John sought to climb every peak, explore every canyon and experience every river in the Western United States with one of his major accomplishments being able to climb El Capitan in Yosemite. John shared his enthusiasm by coaching youth athletic teams and by actively recruiting veterans and novices to join him on his many adventures. John's infectious enthusiasm, positive attitude and delightful sense of humor caused those who knew him to love him. John's death was a tremendous loss to family, friends and community. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Veker); sons, John and Kevin; his father, four sisters and a brother. His mother, Char Connolly, preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John A. Connolly M.D. Memorial Living Trust, 4731 S. White Mountain Road, Show Low, AZ 85935 for his sons' education. A memorial service will be held Monday, May 29 at St. Mary's of the Angels in Pinetop at 1 p.m.