Jack Connors Jr.

Jack Connors Jr.
Born	John M. Connors Jr. 6/9/1942
Birthplace	Massachusetts, United States
Died	7/23/2024 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Occupation	Businessman, philanthropist
Known for	Co-founding Hill Holliday; philanthropic work in health care and Catholic education; founding board chair of Mass General Brigham
Education	Boston College (B.A., 1963)
Awards	Boston College Honorary Degree (2007); Inspired Leadership Award (2018)

John M. "Jack" Connors Jr. (June 9, 1942 – July 23, 2024) was an American businessman and philanthropist who shaped Boston's advertising industry and civic landscape over more than five decades. As a co-founder of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc., he helped build one of the largest advertising agencies in New England and one of the most prominent independent firms in the United States. Beyond the boardroom, Connors became one of Boston's most influential philanthropic figures, raising hundreds of millions of dollars for causes spanning health care, education, and youth development. He served as the founding board chair of Mass General Brigham (formerly Partners HealthCare), sat on the board of trustees of Boston College for decades, and was instrumental in efforts to sustain Catholic schools in the Boston area. He also co-founded Camp Harbor View, a summer camp for underserved youth on Long Island in Boston Harbor. Connors was frequently identified as one of the most powerful people in Boston, and his network of relationships with political, business, and civic leaders earned him a reputation as one of the city's foremost power brokers. He died on July 23, 2024, at the age of 82, following a brief illness reported as cancer.

Early Life

John M. Connors Jr. was born on June 9, 1942, in Massachusetts. He grew up in the Boston area and developed deep roots in the city's civic and social fabric from a young age. Connors was raised in a working-class Irish-Catholic environment, and his upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of community obligation and connection to Boston's neighborhoods. These formative experiences shaped the philanthropic commitments that would define much of his later life, particularly his devotion to Catholic education and to programs serving inner-city youth.

Connors maintained a lifelong connection to his hometown, and even as his professional stature grew to national prominence, he remained firmly rooted in Boston. His identity as a Bostonian was central to his public persona; Mass General Brigham described him as a "consummate Bostonian" in its memorial tribute.

Education

Connors attended Boston College, graduating with the Class of 1963. His years at Boston College were foundational both personally and professionally, and the university remained one of the central institutions in his life. He was described by the college as "one of its most successful, loyal, and committed alumni." In 2007, Boston College conferred upon him an honorary degree, recognizing his contributions to the university and to the broader community.

Connors later served for many years on the Boston College Board of Trustees. His involvement extended across multiple dimensions of university life, including fundraising, strategic planning, and mentorship of students and younger alumni. A 2017 article in The Heights, Boston College's student newspaper, noted the significant impact of longtime trustees including Connors on the institution's growth and direction.

Career

Hill Holliday

Connors co-founded the advertising firm Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc. — commonly known as Hill Holliday — and served as its chief executive officer. Under his leadership, the firm grew into one of the largest and most prominent full-service marketing communications companies in the northeastern United States. Hill Holliday became known for its creative campaigns and attracted major regional and national clients, establishing Boston as a significant center for the advertising industry.

The firm's success made Connors a prominent figure in American advertising and gave him both the financial resources and the network of relationships that would fuel his later philanthropic endeavors. His career in advertising spanned decades, and even after stepping back from day-to-day management, he remained closely associated with the firm's identity and reputation.

Health Care Leadership

Connors played a central role in the formation and governance of one of the nation's largest health care systems. He served as the founding board chair of Partners HealthCare (later renamed Mass General Brigham), the system created by the merger of Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. In this capacity, he helped guide the integration of two of Boston's most prestigious hospitals into a unified system and oversaw the early strategic direction of the combined entity.

His tenure as board chair was marked by significant expansion and organizational development. Mass General Brigham described him as a "visionary leader" in its memorial statement, crediting him with helping to shape the system's mission and governance structure. Connors eventually retired from the Partners HealthCare chairmanship, an occasion marked by tributes from friends and colleagues across the Boston health care community.

Beyond his board role, Connors was a significant fundraiser for health care causes. He was honored by Massachusetts General Hospital as part of its "The One Hundred" recognition program, which highlights individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the hospital's mission. A 2018 "Medicine Matters" gala raised more than $1 million in support of health care, reflecting the kind of large-scale fundraising efforts with which Connors was frequently associated.

The Brigham and Women's Hospital also recognized Connors's impact. Upon his death, the hospital's newsletter published a memorial acknowledging his contributions to the institution and to the broader health care system.

Philanthropy and Civic Leadership

Connors's philanthropic activities extended well beyond health care, encompassing education, youth development, and civic causes throughout the Boston area. He was frequently cited as one of the most powerful people in Boston's philanthropic world. In 2013, Boston Magazine included him on its list of the most powerful people in Boston philanthropy.

One of Connors's most prominent philanthropic initiatives was his work on behalf of Catholic schools in the Boston area. He was instrumental in campaigns to raise funds for Catholic education, helping to sustain schools that served many of the city's lower-income and minority communities. In 2013, The Boston Globe reported on his role in a campaign for Catholic schools that marked a significant milestone in fundraising. Renovation work at the old St. Gregory's schoolhouse in Dorchester was among the projects associated with efforts to revitalize Catholic school infrastructure in the city.

Connors also co-founded Camp Harbor View, a free summer day camp for underserved Boston youth located on Long Island in Boston Harbor. The camp provided programming in areas such as academics, athletics, and the arts, and served hundreds of children each summer. CBS News remembered Connors specifically for his work with inner-city children through the camp. A 2018 profile in the Boston Business Journal noted Connors's enthusiasm for Camp Harbor View, describing him as "one happy camper" about the program's growth and impact. The camp's annual "Beach Ball" fundraising gala was a major event on Boston's social calendar; a 2016 edition of the event raised significant funds for the camp's operations.

In 2024, The Patriot Ledger described Connors as "well-known as a power-broker in the state and for his charitable contributions," summarizing the breadth of his civic engagement at the time of his death.

Political Connections

Connors maintained close relationships with political figures in Massachusetts. In 2014, The Boston Globe reported on his fundraising efforts on behalf of Charlie Baker's gubernatorial campaign, noting Connors's ability to mobilize financial support from Boston's business community for political causes. He was also known for his friendship with former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino; a 2014 article in the Boston Business Journal recounted an anecdote about the day Connors took Menino for a ride, illustrating the warmth of their relationship.

In the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Connors was identified as one of the key figures behind the establishment of The One Fund Boston, which raised money for victims of the attack. Boston Magazine listed him among the "power players" behind the fund in a 2013 article.

Later Career and Board Service

In 2022, Connors was named as a trustee of the Cummings Foundation, a major philanthropic organization based in the Boston area. Robert Keefe was named alongside him in the announcement. This appointment reflected his continued involvement in Boston's philanthropic community even as he entered his eighties.

Connors also maintained his connection to health care advocacy in his later years. In 2018, MassLive reported on his philanthropic activities, noting his continued engagement with Boston-area causes.

Personal Life

Connors resided in the Boston area throughout his life. At the time of his death, he was living in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was surrounded by his close family when he died on July 23, 2024.

His funeral Mass was held on July 30, 2024, at St. Ignatius Church on the campus of Boston College, underscoring the deep connection between Connors and his alma mater. The service was livestreamed by Boston College.

His death was attributed to cancer, according to Boston Magazine. The Boston Herald published an appreciation describing Connors as "a quiet hero of Boston," noting his decades of service to the city.

Recognition

Connors received numerous honors over the course of his career. Boston College conferred an honorary degree upon him in 2007, recognizing his service to the university and to the wider community. In 2018, he received an award for "inspired leadership" from a Boston College–affiliated program, as reported by The Heights.

Massachusetts General Hospital recognized Connors as part of its "The One Hundred" program, which honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the hospital. His role as founding board chair of Partners HealthCare (Mass General Brigham) was itself a mark of the esteem in which he was held by Boston's medical and civic establishments.

Boston Magazine consistently identified Connors as one of the most powerful and influential figures in Boston philanthropy, a distinction he held for many years.

Legacy

Jack Connors Jr.'s legacy in Boston spans the advertising industry, health care, education, and youth services. His co-founding of Hill Holliday helped establish Boston as a center for the advertising business, and the firm's growth under his leadership demonstrated that major national-caliber agencies could thrive outside of New York. His role as founding board chair of what became Mass General Brigham placed him at the center of one of the most significant developments in American health care administration — the consolidation of major academic medical centers into integrated systems.

In philanthropy, Connors was credited with raising hundreds of millions of dollars for causes across the Boston area. His work on behalf of Catholic schools helped sustain educational institutions that served communities often overlooked by other funding sources. Camp Harbor View, which he co-founded, continued to operate after his death, providing summer programming to hundreds of Boston youth each year.

His involvement in the creation of The One Fund Boston following the 2013 marathon bombing illustrated his ability to mobilize resources rapidly in response to civic crises. His network of relationships — spanning business, politics, health care, and education — made him an unusual figure in Boston's civic life, one who could convene disparate interests and direct them toward common goals.

Upon his death, tributes from institutions including Boston College, Mass General Brigham, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and numerous media outlets reflected the breadth of his impact. The Boston Globe described his legacy as "unparalleled," noting the range of institutions and causes he had supported over more than half a century.