Patrick (Hippy) Connolly

OSWEGO – Pat Connolly, age 77, was born in Oswego on November 10, 1948 to William “Soup” Connolly and Maurine (O’Leary) Connolly, and was a Scriba resident for 50 plus years, passed away on March 31, 2026, at his home in Scriba, as a result of, as he always said, “falling apart at the seams” aka old age and its accompanying frailties.

Pat was raised in Oswego partly in “The Flats” and later on West Seneca St., attending St. Mary’s parochial grade school and Oswego Catholic (Cat High) High School, graduating in 1966. Like many folks from Oswego, he worked many, many jobs from early teen years, paperboy, onion-topping muck worker, IGA stockboy, college food service janitor, Breneman’s window shade factory (summer help), Hammermill Paper, Fulton’s Foster Brother’s Knife Works, Oswego Water Dept. plus a few more. The main point being Pat always had work, before, between and after his forays (failures) in higher education, aka flunking out. Pat eventually worked for Russell McPhail’s Oswego Candy Co., which although the pay was less than optimum, really was his proudest work experience of all, making world famous “Ox-Heart Chocolate Covered Cherries” and “Ox-Heart Peanut Butter”.

When all was said and done, he ended up at the original Alcan Oswego Works for more than 30 years, where on his first day, was branded “HIPPY” by future co-worker Joe (Ski) Seinoski. He said that he really liked most of the people at “the CAN”, both management and production and maintenance, that he had befriended and missed them dearly after retiring. He prided himself as being part of the one big ‘Alcan Family’ and proving to his bosses that he really WAS a team player. Once a supervisor said, “Hip! Don’t get so wound up about this place. It’s just a job.” Pat looked at him and responded, “Then you don’t know and understand me very well Larry. This is MY Place! and I’m proud of being part of it, so it’s more than just a job!”

Pat was sure that “Hippy” and the new company, Novelis’s regime wouldn’t be a good mix, so for him it was “Time To Get Outta Dodge!” that is retire, with his benefits intact before the new company did away with them. He truly missed the folks from the “CAN” ’til his own demise.

Hip/Pat could never shake that cursed nickname, “Hippy”, until the very last when he had to die to get out from under it! He even had to donate his body to science to avoid being buried, as someone would surely chisel that damned-fool name on his tombstone.

Pat is survived by his daughter Erin Chatterson, stepson Shawn Connolly, sister Millie Bowers and her husband Jim, as well as many nieces and nephews, especially niece Karen (Askew) Lyndaker and her husband Ed.

Pat was pre-deceased by his parents Bill and Maurine Connolly as well as sisters Nora Smith, Sheila Brown, brother Jack Askew and brother Tim Connolly, sister Megan Connolly and sister Debbie Waters.

Pat/Hippy didn’t have many hobbies such as hunting, fishing, golf or tennis but he DID have a weakness and proclivity for the social life of bars, taverns and clubs. His mother used to refer to him as “HER BARFLY”, to which he’d smile, raise his hand and take a bow in acknowledgement and recognition.

Per Pat/Hip’s wishes, there will be no services although he’d appreciate any of his old buddies, guys and girls, if any are still kicking, raising a glass, bottle or can to toast the times they had shared, many good and some maybe less so.

James A. Menter Funeral Home has care of arrangements.

Print this entry