Francis S. "Mike" Connelly

Mr. Francis S. "Mike" Connelly, 85, a longtime Indianapolis resident, passed away peacefully at Marquette Manor on the morning of April 21, 2021, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, with his wife of 59 years, Emme, by his side. Born to Henry J. Connelly and Martha Stewart in Chicago, Illinois, on July 9, 1935, Mike was the second of 6 children, all of whom were avid swimmers. He grew up in Naperville, Illinois, attending Saints Peter & Paul Catholic School, Marmion Academy for high school, then college at the University of Notre Dame. He loved his time at Notre Dame, where he played saxophone in the marching band (traveling all over the United States), was in Army ROTC, and swam with the swimming club. Mike was instrumental in elevating the Notre Dame Swim Club to a collegiate level competitive swimming program. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1957 with a degree in accounting. He went on to study at DePaul University Law School in Chicago, earning his J.D. in 1962. During this time, he served for several years in the Illinois National Guard. He and Emme (nee Onak) married in October 1962 and resided in Oak Park, Illinois. In 1967 Mike was selected from the ranks of the Arthur Young & Company’s Chicago office to open its Indianapolis office where he worked until 1976 when he moved to Krieg, DeVault, LLP, continuing his career as a Tax Attorney. Mike became a partner at the firm, and was a respected tax attorney in the Indianapolis community. He was very dedicated to his profession, and more dedicated to his wife Emme, his five children, the St. Luke Catholic parish and community, and multiple volunteer organizations, including the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Mike was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, and a member of the Notre Dame Club of Indianapolis, the Riviera Swim Club, Meridian Hills Country Club, the Indianapolis Sailing Club at Geist Reservoir, and the former Indianapolis Athletic Club where he played club squash for many years. Mike was predeceased by his parents, and his sister Jill Oberweis. Mike is now with God and reunited with his family. He is survived by his loving wife Emme; siblings Patricia Haas, Jackie Peterson, Jeanne Rechenmacher, and John Connelly; daughter Anne Connelly, son Thomas Connelly, daughter Maureen (Connelly) Fabry, daughter Mary Beth Connelly, and son Patrick Connelly; grandchildren Patrick Flood, Madeleine (Flood) Stamper, Michael Flood, Thomas Flood, Grace Westover Erickson, Luke Fabry, and Lex Fabry; great-grandchildren Lucy Flood, Theodore Stamper, and Rhys Stamper; and many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation will be from 10:00am-10:30am, Saturday, April 24, at the Chapel at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, 9001 Haverstick Road, Indianapolis, IN 46240. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am, immediately following visitation. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following: University of Notre Dame, the Retirement Fund of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, or The Parkinson’s Foundation. If making a memorial donation to the University of Notre Dame, please direct your gift to Men’s Swimming - In memory of Francis S. “Mike” Connelly. Gifts may be made online at giving.nd.edu, by phone at (574) 631-5150, or by mail: University of Notre Dame, Department of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556.