Michael R. (Moses) Connolly

Pittsfield – Michael R. Connolly, 68, died Monday at Berkshire Medical Center after an eight-year battle with Inclusion Body Myositis, a rare muscular disorder.

Michael, who was known as Moses or simply Mo, had suffered a heart attack Thursday at the Mt. Greylock Extended Care. He passed away quietly after visiting with his family.

Moses attended St. Joseph’s High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. Later, he attended Berkshire Community College where he was a basketball standout.

Most of his professional career was spent at Berkshire Farm for Boys in Canaan, N.Y., where he worked in the gym and helped with the school’s sports teams. He also had a stint as a bartender in Central Florida.

In his late teens, Moses developed a passion for horse racing. He mastered the art of reading The Racing Form. He was considered an expert handicapper and often friends on their way to the track or OTB would call Mo for a couple of tips.

Moses also was an accomplished solver of crossword puzzles. In his prime, he would knock off a dozen or more in a day. Very few newspapers with unsolved crossword puzzles left the Connolly house on their way to the recycling bin.

Moses was a gentle man who collected many, many friends in his lifetime but no enemies.  Always funny, Moses had a rapier wit and sweet personality.

He was the son of the late John R. and Catherine A. (McGill) Connolly.

Moses leaves his sister, Mary Anderson of Pittsfield; his brothers Kevin J. Connolly of Pittsfield, Chris Connolly and his wife Mary of Concord, N.H., and Tim Connolly and his wife Donna of Worcester. He also leaves several nieces, nephews and aunts. Moses was predeceased by his sister in law Linda Hart Connolly.

Connolly, Michael R. “ Moses”, age 68, died April 17th. Calling hours at the DEVANNY-CONDRON FUNERAL HOME will be FRIDAY, April 21st from 5 to 7 pm.  Funeral Services will be held SATURDAY morning at 10:15 am from the funeral home followed with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at SACRED HEART CHURCH with the Rev. Michael   F.  Bernier, pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth in care of Devanny-Condron Funeral Home

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