Art Connorton

Art Connorton: 'He is one legend'
The beloved teacher and wrestling coach is mourned by the many whose lives he touched
By LINDA QUINLAN, Messenger Post Staff
Irondequoit Post
Thursday, February 23,

Full Text: Copyright © 2006 Mesenger Post Newspapers.
Reproduced with the permission of Mesenger Post Newspapers.

Arkee Allen remembers how he gave him a ride home from school, every day, for three years.

"I lived in the city, " Allen recalled, "and 'Bear' lived in Greece ... It was a 20-minute ride for him to go home on Route 104, but instead, he would drive me all the way into the city, then go home. "

Allen wrestled for four years for Coach Art Connorton, also known as "Bear, " at Irondequoit High School.

Today, Allen is head coach of the IHS wrestling program.

"One of the things about 'Bear' is that he made you feel like a million bucks in all situations, " Allen added.

"Bear, " Connorton's family said, is a nickname he carried with him from the time of his birth.

"He was a big kid when he was born and the story is that an aunt came over and said, 'He looks like a bear,' " said his wife of 44 years, Judith Connorton.

Generations of IHS wrestlers and West Irondequoit School District students knew him by the simple moniker.

"I always assumed it (the nickname) was from his exterior - he was a big guy, " said teacher, friend and coaching colleague Tim Mabb, "but inside, believe me, he was a teddy bear. "

Arthur J. "Bear " Connorton lost a battle with cancer and died on Valentine's Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. He was 70.

He had still been making plans to attend this year's NCAA Wrestling Tournament, as he did with friends every year.

While Connorton and wrestling are nearly synonymous - the wrestling gym at IHS is named for him - his friends and family remember his heart, his humor and his devotion to people in general.

"He is one legend, " said Chris Cardon, varsity basketball coach at IHS. "If a student had Art (in class), he was probably one of their favorite teachers of all time. "

Mr. Connorton grew up in Rochester and graduated from Aquinas Institute in 1953. His parents later resided on Brookview Drive in Irondequoit.

He started his 45-year in education with the West Irondequoit School District in 1960. He retired in 1995, having taught science and health at the district's Dake School for all of those years.

He also started the district's wrestling program in 1960.

"He was a tremendous asset not only to our district, but to kids in general, " Mabb said. "Yes, he knew wrestling inside and out, but he also was a people person, and the way he could motivate people ... Well, people just loved to be around him. "

The accolades Mr. Connorton logged in his long career were impressive. Not only was he named to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, but he also was honored as a Monroe County Coach of the Year seven times. His wrestling team's accomplishments included 84 team titles, 34 All-Americans and 301 dual-meet wins.

It didn't stop there.

He served as a coach and instructor at more than 400 wrestling camps and clinics around the country and beyond.

"He's been everywhere, " Cardon said.

It didn't stop when he retired.

He became an assistant wrestling coach at his alma mater, SUNY Brockport, in 1995, and still held that title. He graduated from the college in 1957.

Despite, or perhaps because of, the many awards and honors he received over the years, "He was so unassuming, " he wife said, "and honest in his dealings with everything and everyone; he was just sweet all around. "

The couple resided on Rock Beach Road in Irondequoit, then moved to Greece, where they lived for nearly 40 years and raised their three daughters. They moved to Webster about a year and a half ago.

His daughter, Sherie, recalled how when he would receive another award or letter, "He'd snap his fingers, kick up his heels and say, 'Art Connorton: A legend in his own mind.. "

"That's who he was, " she said. "He was a giver, not a taker. "

Cardon and Mabb said Mr. Connorton was not only a friend but also a mentor.

"He was always willing to help young people, like myself, in the profession, " Mabb said. "He was always supportive. "

In and out of wrestling season, he was always on the sidelines, cheering students and young coaches in football, basketball and baseball, Mabb said. Mabb is now varsity baseball coach at IHS.

Cardon, who regularly visits a former student, a basketball player, who is incarcerated in Elmira, said Mr. Connorton, when he heard about the visits, offered to make the long trips with him.

"What a thrill for this kid; it made his day whenever he saw Art, " Cardon said.

Mr. Connorton's association with the district didn't stop when he retired. Mabb recalled that at one of their frequent Friday lunches, he mentioned that he could use some help with a wrestling unit he taught in physical education class.

For the next eight or nine years, "Bear " voluntarily visited both Mabb's classes at Iroquois Middle School and Cardon's at Rogers Middle School during the wrestling unit.

"He shared all kinds of stories with the kids, " Mabb said, "and gave them pep talks ... and the kids just gravitated to him. "

"He was just such a role model, " Cardon added, "and a first-class guy. You never heard him say a bad word about a kid. "

If he was known for something besides wrestling, it was his stories.

"Oh, he always had stories, " said IHS English teacher Todd Lilly, "but he would also give you the shirt off his back ... My kids learned to ride on bicycles he gave them. "

"He did know how to give a good, inspirational speech, " agreed IHS staffer Diane Irwin, who was a student in the district when Mr. Connorton was teaching.

Mr. Connorton's own children remember his "secret trips, " always centered around a story.

"When we were little, he'd pile us all in the car and start driving and telling a story, " Sherie said, "and he'd drive till the story was done. " She recalled one time where they drove as far as Brockport and back, and still sat in the car in the driveway for 45 minutes, to finish the story.

"He just crafted it, " his storytelling abilities, Sherie added. "Instead of sitting and reading a book, he made up his own stories. "

Music and traveling were Mr. Connorton's other interests.

"He was a Renaissance man, " his wife said, recalling that he not only loved music, but also taught himself to play the guitar and later collected guitars.

He also loved composing songs; yes, mostly about his favorite subject - wrestling - that he shared at the many camps he worked.

Cardon said he believes his friend even cut a record, which he titled "The Art of Wrestling."

"He was quite a joker, too, " he added.

The family made many trips to Cape Cod, where one of the wresting camps was, and for the last 10 years, even though the camp no longer existed, her parents would travel there every year with friends, Sherie said.

Since her father's death, she added, the biggest theme of the many cards and letters the family has received is that Mr. Connorton "made them each a better person. "

"He tailored my life, " Allen agreed. "He ushered me in to the right venue. He got me into wrestling in the first place. He told to go to Columbia University ... Bear made me this. And my son is going to be touched because of Bear. "

IHS had a moment of silence for Mr. Connorton last Wednesday.

"He was such a larger-than-life figure, " Principal Patrick McCue said. "He did so much for kids, around wrestling and beyond. "

"We will certainly miss the 'Bear,' " said Dennis Fries, the district's director of athletics.

The family has started an Art "Bear " Connorton scholarship fund to be given to an IHS wrestler each year. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Judy Connorton, 59 Jewelberry Drive, Webster, N.Y. 14580.

Predeceased by his parents, Arthur F. and Virginia Connorton, and brother, Donald, Mr. Connorton is survived by his wife, Judith; daughters, Cynthia (Edward) Gallagher of Connecticut, Sherie Connorton and Tracy (Michael) West; four grandchildren; brother, John (Marsha) Connorton of Florida; nieces, nephews, a sister-in-law in Arizona and a brother-in-law in California.

His funeral was last Saturday morning at St. Rita's Church in Webster. Arrangements were made by Paul W. Harris Funeral Home in Irondequoit. Interment was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.