Clarence A. Connor

Clarence (Duke) Connor, passed away August 19, 2024 at the Vermont Veterans Home after moving there in May 2023. He was born in Cambridge, NY on September 15, 1934, son of the late Clarence A. Connor and Kathryn (Sprague) Connor. He received his education in the town of Easton at School District 4 and later moved to Troy, NY. Duke was a United States Army veteran, having served six years in the National Guard from 1958-1964 after training at Fort Dix. Duke and his wife, Lorraine, owned and operated a neighborhood grocery store, Clar-Con Grocery in Lansingburgh, NY. He later worked 34 years for Desormeau Vending before retiring as manager. He commuted daily from Babcock Lake in Grafton, NY. Their children attended Grafton Elementary School, Berlin Central and St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls, NY. Duke never missed an opportunity to share his pride in his grown children. Duke and Lorraine later moved to Duanesburg, NY where they lived for many years “on the other side of the river” before purchasing a home on West Road in Bennington, VT. Survivors include his beloved wife of 66 years, Lorraine M. Connor of Bennington, VT, and their children: Mark Connor (Miriam Crivaro) of Westchester, PA; Donna Kuper (Mike) of Mesa, AZ; Linda Otero (Tom) of Ellenton, FL; Pamela Hurley (Gene Jewtraw) of Lake Placid, NY; and Sheila Connor (Jeff Sandler) of La Jolla, CA., and his only sister, Margaret Page of Brunswick, NY. Duke is also survived by nine grandchildren: Mark Anthony Connor and Michelle (Connor) Bernasconi; Lauren-Ashley (Hurley) Whitman; Monica and Cassandra Harrell; Adrian Connor; Walter, Bridgett, and Felicia Otero and also 13 great-grandchildren: Michael and Genny Otero; Skyler Liimatainen; Jamie-Lee Jones; Liam, Leon and Felix Cascione; Cole Harrell; and Rael and Zayd Wells; Chiara and Elio Bernasconi; and Emery Connor and his niece and nephew, Kathy Lane of Princeton Jct., NJ and Paul Page of Stillwater, NY. There will be a brief graveside service with military honors at Park Lawn Cemetery in Bennington on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at noon. Contributions in memory of Clarence A. Connor may be made directly to the Parkinson’s Foundation.