David John Conner

On the morning of March 14, 2016, David passed away at Chandler Regional Hospital, Chandler, AZ after several years of battling coronary heart disease. He was 73 years old. He was born in Benton, IL, January 9, 1943, His parents were Helen (Austin) and Henry Conner. His Grandparents, Willard and Clellie Austin, were always nearby to help with his early childhood trials and triumphs.

At the age of 8, he contracted Bulbar Polio and survived after spending a year in an iron lung at the Illinois State Hospital. Upon his triumphant release, he had suffered the collapse of one lung, he could not walk, and faced a life-time struggle with spinal curvature that became more severe as he aged. A family neighbor, trained as a chiropractor, offered to work with David to restore an ability to walk. That gave him hope, and a red bicycle from Grandpa Austin gave him an incentive, resulting in an active child that tackled childhood schooling and friendly games with many friends.

By 7th grade, he was battling severe asthma. The family had little choice but to move to Arizona despite their poor status. To augment the travel expense, Grandpa Austin gave David a large box of gold (colored) sewing needles insisting that the boy would find a good use for them. He did. Each packet was described by David as valuable enough to exchange for food, gas and/or lodging. They made it to a motel on E. VanBuren, and eventually moved to a house in the Madison School District in Phoenix. David's health returned.

David graduated from Central High School and from Lamson College of Business, completed courses at Scottsdale Community College and Arizona State University. He was a Charter member of the Scottsdale Optimist Club, enjoyed singing with the Orpheus All Male Choir, and was a member of the Scottsdale Republican Forum. As an active member of the ASU Sun Angels, he remained a life-time supporter of the ASU Football Program and in 1983 donated his 1962 Porsche to the Ron Keefer Memorial Football Awards Banquet.

His career centered around the automobile business, first in sales and then up the ladder, eventually finding the position of Manager – Finance and Insurance at Coulter Cadillac, 12th St. and Camelback in Phoenix. This gave him the means to support a family, and so he proposed to Nancy West, the Justice of the Peace in Scottsdale. His bachelor friends were amazed that he had chosen Nancy, the mother of eight children. David ignored the warnings and they were married April 14, 1978 in Lake Tahoe, NV. Family life was “on and running”. David was delighted.

His “adopted family members” are: John Powers, Michael Powers, Seanna Powers. Maureen Troisi, Patrick Powers, Mary Kulovitz, Thad West and Leann Birdsall. To date David and Nancy's family has grown with the addition of loved spouses, twenty-two Grandchildren and seven Great grandchildren.

He silently regretted not being physically able to serve in the US Military. However, his devotion to

those who did serve was met annually by generous support of the USO, Wounded Warriors, and Paralyzed Veterans. He volunteered at the Phoenix VA Hospital.

A “Celebration of Life”, as a memorial service for David, is scheduled for Sunday. March 20, 3 p.m. at The Valley of the Sun Mortuary, 10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd., between Arizona Ave. and Alma School Rd. Attendees will be invited to share a favorite “David story”. He loved funny stories. No flowers, please. Donations sent to your favorite charity will be appreciated.