George Edward Connaughton Jr.

George Edward Connaughton, Jr, age 78, of St. Augustine, entered eternal life on March 19, 2024 at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida after a hard-fought battle with cancer. George was born on October 29, 1945 in Brooklyn, New York to parents George Edward and Isabel Egan Connaughton. George grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, where church and faith were at the center of his Irish-Catholic family life, which would continue to carry and guide him throughout his lifetime. He attended the Catholic schools of Our Lady of Lourdes and Holy Cross High School. George developed a lifelong love of the outdoors at an early age, thanks to his parents taking every opportunity to drive him and his three siblings out of the city for the weekend into the countryside for hiking at Bear Mountain State Park, fishing at Lake Tiorati, and beach days at Jones Beach. He showed promise as a future engineer early on with his taking apart the family record player and his elaborate erector set creations. He moved with his family to New Bern, North Carolina as a young teen, graduating from New Bern High School with the class of 1963. In New Bern, he was very active in Boy Scouts, marching band, and developed a lifelong love of tennis. A talented student, George went on to study at North Carolina State University, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1967. He started his engineering career working for Shell Oil in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he met the love of his life, Kathleen Lopez, who was a stenographer for the company. George married Kathleen on July 12, 1969 and they started their married life in Metairie, Louisiana. From Metairie, they moved to and enjoyed Ahoskie, North Carolina where he was a project engineer for Farmers Chemical Corp. In 1972, George and his family settled in North Augusta, South Carolina for 34 years, where he enjoyed a successful career that he loved as a Professional Engineer and manager for an industrial chemical company (Columbia Nitrogen) and later as president of its sister company, Augusta Service Company. George was highly respected and loved by his co-workers, and he was honored to serve for some time as chairman of an industry trade organization, SMRP (Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals). He retired in 2005 to St. Augustine to be close to his soon-to-arrive grandchildren. While in St. Augustine, he served as vice president for Matthews Design Group. George was very athletic throughout his life and enjoyed hiking, playing tennis, golf, and cheering on his NC State Wolfpack in football and basketball. But above all, George’s greatest passion was for his family as a loving husband, and a devoted and highly-involved father and grandfather. He was always very active and present in the lives of his children, including as a volunteer leader of Indian Guides, Indian Princesses, and a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 98 in North Augusta. He likewise loved nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren, who affectionately called him “Pa” – teaching them tennis; throwing softballs; building models; attending their games, plays, and reenactments; and baking Christmas cookies. George will forever be remembered for his true love of God, family, life, and dear friends. He had strong faith, compassion for others, and a genuine boundless interest in getting to know people and hearing the stories they have to share. He enjoyed a very active retirement which included traveling to numerous National Parks and Ireland with his family; leading family backpacking trips on the Appalachian and Florida Trails; and playing tennis, golf, and kayaking with his many dear friends. He was also an eager volunteer: as a boat builder with the St. Augustine Lighthouse Heritage Boatworks, as a builder of wheelchair ramps for the Council on Aging, and as a whale watcher. George loved being a member of San Sebastian Catholic Church in St Augustine. For 32 years, he was very active in the Knights of Columbus, including as a 4th degree member of Bishop Verot Assembly 166, a member in the Father René Robert Council 11046, past Grand Knight, and financial secretary for many years. George was proud to help his council achieve nine Star Council Awards while he served. In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by his twin brother, James Peter Connaughton, a daughter, Erin Theresa Connaughton, and a grandson, Gabriel Jacob Matthews. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathleen Lopez Connaughton of St. Augustine; daughter, Keri Connaughton Matthews of St. Augustine; son, George Edward Connaughton III of Atlanta, Georgia; sister, Ellen Connaughton Grady of Avon Lake, Ohio; brother, Dennis Connaughton of Randolph, New Jersey; sister-in-law, Pamela Teachey Connaughton of Plano, Texas; grandchildren, Rob Andrew Matthews IV and Abigael Marie Matthews; and many nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7pm, with a prayer service at 6pm, on Monday, March 25, 2024 at St. Johns Family Funeral Home. A funeral Mass for George will be held at 10am on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at San Sebastian Catholic Church with Father Thomas Walsh officiating. Interment will follow at San Lorenzo Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of George to the Glioblastoma Research Organization - https://www.gbmresearch.org - or a charity near and dear to you would be greatly appreciated.” St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

George Edward Connaughton Jr.

October 29, 1945 - March 19, 2024