John P. Connarn

John Patrick Connarn was born in Brattleboro, Vermont on July 8, 1917, the son of Frederick M. Connarn and Margaret (Holland) Connarn.[2] He was raised and educated in Northfield, Vermont, and graduated from Northfield High School in 1936.[3] Connarn subsequently attended Norwich University, from which he received his bachelor's degree in 1941.[3]

After college, Connarn joined the United States Army to serve during World War II.[4] He served initially with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia.[4] When the army created unites including the 87th Infantry Regiment to train for mountain and winter warfare, Connarn volunteered, and served at locations including Camp Hale, Colorado.[5] Connarn was subsequently assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Division at Fort Clark, Texas.[4]

Following additional training at Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1943 Connarn was assigned to the 179th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 45th Infantry Division.[4] He served in the North African campaign, including the post-Operation Torch occupation of sites in Morocco and Algeria.[4] The 179th Infantry took part in the August 1944 Operation Dragoon invasion of southern France, and took part in combat as a platoon leader in the regiment's Company E.[4] He took part in battles that followed the Dragoon landings, and was severely wounded in France in October 1944.[4]

Connarn underwent extensive recuperation at several military hospitals, including Naples, Italy, Clinton, Iowa, and Fort Carson, Colorado.[4] He attained the rank of captain, and remained in the army until being medically retired in 1947.[1][3] Connarn was a recipient of the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, and European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three campaign stars.[4]

Connarn graduated from the University of Maine School of Law in 1952 and became an attorney in Northfield.[6] A Democrat, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1956 and served two two-year terms, 1957 to 1961.[3]

In 1963, Connarn was appointed judge of Montpelier's municipal court, and he served until 1965.[7][8] in 1964 he was elected Vermont Attorney General and served two years, 1965 to 1967.[3] Connarn was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1966.[9]

In 1967, Connarn was appointed a Judge of the Vermont District Court, and he served until his retirement in 1985.[3] After leaving the bench, Connarn owned and operated Northfield's Margaret Holland Inn and served two terms on the local school board.[3] He was a scout master in the local Boy Scout troop, president of the Norwich University Alumni Association, and was active in Northfield's American Legion Post.[3]

Connarn died in Berlin, Vermont on March 26, 2002.[2] He was buried at Aldrich Cemetery (West Hill Cemetery) in Northfield.[6]

Connarn was married first to Phyllis Pitcher, and later to artist Alicia Stonebreaker.[6] After his second wife's death, he married Stanislawa (Barbara) Prostacka Michalek.[2][3][6] He was the father of two daughters and a son, as well as four stepsons.[3]