Elected officials, business leaders, family and friends turned out in front of Boston’s John Hancock Tower Tuesday morning to unveil a statue honoring revered and celebrated philanthropist and business magnate Jack Connors Jr..
Connors, who passed away at the age of 82 in 2024, was well known for his charitable and often unsung contributions to Boston’s hospitals, schools, youth programs and more. He even became the guardian angel of Camp Harbor View after the late Mayor Tom Menino turned to him for help, allowing inner-city kids to become seaside campers along Long Island.
“This is the perfect spot in the perfect part of our city to have this memorial that will forever help us remember the good that was put into the world from Jack and all the many conversations that he had that turned into big ideas, challenges, impossible things that the city and others would then have to scramble to make sure we could bring to life,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.”
“This is a statue that, to me, is something that’s meant to evoke all the good that Jack was. If you come visit here in the days to come, if you have an opportunity to sit on this bench, I hope what you’re reminded of always is the values, the things that Jack really stood for,” added Gov. Maura Healey.
Connors is survived by his wife, Eileen, a daughter, Susanne Joyce of Westwood; three sons, John III and Tim, both of Westwood, and Kevin of Dedham; his sister, Margaret Hanks of Dedham; and 13 grandchildren, who had the honors of unveiling his statue to the public for the first time.
Jack Connors’ widow, Eileen, touches the hand of the statue of her husband after the unveiling outside the Hancock tower. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
One of Jack Connors Jr.’s grandsons sits on the bench after the unveiling outside the Hancock tower. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)