Walter Leland Connolly

Walter Leland Connolly December 10, 1921 ~ October 26, 2016 Resident of Moraga Walter Connolly died comfortably on October 26 leaving his six children, Carol Connolly, Chris Connolly, Marty McInturf, John Connolly, Janet Connolly-Keelty and Thomas Connolly, to rejoin his beloved wife Dorothy. He was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, the youngest of four surviving boys. He departed to study Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley in 1938. His ROTC commission was activated in 1942 but an induction physical exam found asymptomatic TB and he was sent to bed rest for the next two years. He returned to Cal in 1944 to finish a few credits and to meet his future wife Dorothy whom he married in 1947, losing her 60 years later to her own passing. He went to work at Grove Valve and Regulator Company, also in 1947, to begin a career as an engineer working for Marvin Grove Sr. and Jr. over several companies and 60 years, finally retiring definitively at 87. He lived in Walnut Creek; Paris, France; Orinda; Houston, TX and then returned to Moraga in 1978. He retired for a time in 1984 but found it didn't suit him and he returned to designing valves till 2008. He was predeceased by his brothers George Connolly and Roy Connolly of Santa Cruz and San Jose respectively and his dear brother Harry who died in WWII, as well as his parents William and Alice Connolly. In addition to his six children, he is survived by sons-in-law Steven McInturf and Glen Keelty and daughters-in-law Susan Vachon, Dana Sassone Connolly, Lynn Connolly and Sylvia Connolly. He will be missed by grandchildren Kelly, Derek and Gina Connolly; Nicholas and Sean McInturf; Erin, Ryan and Kyle Connolly; Devon, Bria and Garrett Keelty; and Christine, Shannon and Michael Connolly. Visitation will be 7:00 - 8:30 pm Thursday, November 3, 2016 at Oak Park Hills Chapel and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 4, at 10:00 am, at Santa Maria Catholic Church, 40 Santa Maria Way, Orinda, CA 94563. Funeral Mass Friday, November 4, 2016 10:00 am Santa Maria Catholic Church 40 Santa Maria Way Orinda CA 94563 Visitation Thursday, November 3, 2016 07:00 pm-08:30 pm Funeral Home