Joel Irving Connolly Jr. of Brewster,  passed away in South Yarmouth on October 26, 2018 at the age of 86.  He was born in Chicago, Illinois,  the son of  Virginia (Gordon) and Joel I. Connolly Sr.

 

Following his many years of service in the U. S. Army, Joel spent many years as a sea captain.  Finally he returned to Brewster to the family home which dated back to 1735, with no electricity or running water, keeping it as he had known it in his early years. As the story goes, after the house burned down in 2008,  Joel built a teepee and eventually a cabin.

 

“In our small town of Brewster, Joel knew everyone and everyone knew Joel.  He proudly cultivated a reputation as a “hermit” and a “curmudgeon” but to those of us who admired his wild, independent style, Joel was a local hero.  His rugged determination taught us all to question convention and authority and to trust in that which functions reliably and serves a purpose.  There is a hole in our community fabric.  We will miss you, Joel.”

 

Joel is survived by his sister, Ruth Kvaalen and her husband, Arne, of West Lafayette, IN and his nieces and nephew, Eric, Kristen and Virginia.

 

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in Brewster Cemetery, Lower Road, Brewster, MA.  A celebration of life will be held on December 6 from 1-4 p.m. at the Brewster Council on Aging, Route 6A, Brewster, MA.

I will miss my friend of 34 years. God Bless you Joel.