Obituary of Dennis Conner

Dennis R. Conner,88, of Palm City, Florida died July 6, 2012 at the Gardens Retreat, Palm City.

Born in Shalmar, Maryland, he had been a resident of Palm City for over 30 years coming from Colonial Beach, Virginia.

Before retiring he was an entrepreneur with many businesses in both Maryland and Virginia one of which was the Aqualand Complex in Charles County, Maryland. He also was accomplished pilot.

Survivors include his wife Leslie M. Conner and a sister, Louise Owens both of Palm City and a brother, Leo Conner of Hobe Sound, Florida. He was preceded in death, by a daughter, Patricia Conner; brothers Raymond, Dalbert, Howard and Paul Conner and a sister, Shirley Garrett.

SERVICES: Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on July 9, 2012 at the Forest Hills Funeral Home, Palm City Chapel with a service at 1:00 PM. Interment will be in History land Memorial Park, King George, Virginia. Services in Virginia are under the direction of the Nash & Slaw Funeral Home, King George.

For those who wish, contributions may be made to the Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997, or at 772/403-4530 or on line at

www.tchospices.org

Eulogy Presented by Alvin Hall, 12 July 2012

I don't know about you, but over the last couple of days, I've been searching for a place to anchor my hope. When times like this come, and they come for all of us, we look to a place to anchor and think, and think about the man that we love.

"The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive." ---Albert Einstein

The DASH

by Linda Ellis

1923-2012

I read of a reverend who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend.

He referred to the date on his tombstone from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of his birth and spoke of the following date with tears,

but he said what mattered most of all, was the dash between those years.

For the day represents all the time that he spent alive on earth,

and now only those who loved him know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own; the cars...the house...the cash.

What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard, are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left (You could be at "dash mid-range").

If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real

and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more

and love the people in our Iives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile,

remembering that this special "dash" might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash

would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your "dash"?

Dennis Conner was born in Maryland, but lived in Pleasant Valley, West Virginia. He excelled while attending school and was very active in sports. He left home at the age of 16 to pursue his dreams. He went to Cleveland, Ohio and became a mechanic and a machinist. During the years that he lived in Ohio, he grew as an individual and his character and integrity won the trust of his peers, and this would be the value and foundation of his life. Dennis embarked on a new opportunity in Colonial Beach (Virginia) and opened a small food concession stand. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to build other small businesses and develop one of the most successful casino businesses in Maryland. He was an active builder acquiring ground in both Ocean City and Charles County, Maryland.

Dennis eventually moved to Maryland and developed Aqua Land, one of the largest amusement park, zoo, marina, airport, and truck stop complexes on the Eastern Shore.

Dennis was an inspiration in my life, as he was a person that I looked up to. I knew Dennis for 52 years. I was 20 and moved from West Virginia the same as he had. I thought to myself "If he could do this, so could I."

Dennis and I loved to hunt, golf, fish, and fly up and down the Eastern Shore. Dennis also loved riding around with his bear in the front seat of his convertible.

A friend and a gentleman to many in this room and a true brother to some here today.

Dennis, Leslie, Sam, and I had a very close relationship and active social life. The four of us were very close. I remember the first time I met Leslie and wondered to myself, how an ugly old man like him could get such a beautiful girlfriend. But Leslie has become the rock that Dennis depended on, to be his right hand, and, if it wasn't for Leslie over the last several months being the wonderful caretaker, Dennis would have spent many months in the hospital or nursing home rather than at home. I know that it's taken a toll on Leslie. Dennis' friends, family, and I would like to thank her very much.

To Leslie: Sam and I and all your family and friends are here today to support, love, and help in any way. I only hope you recognize the need, but if not, ask.

Dennis Ronley Conner (1923-2012)

"The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive."

Albert Einstein

When Albert Einstein uttered those words little did he know that the future would bring such a man into this world. On November 24, 1923, Dennis Ronley Conner was born in Shalmar, Maryland, a small town near Cumberland. His parents were Harry Carlton Conner and Elsie Leona (Dodd) Conner who shortly after Dennis' birth settled in Pleasant Valley, West Virginia. Dennis was the fifth living child born to the Conner's with Earl, Ray, Howard, Delbert pre-dating his birth and Paul, Louise, Leo and Shirley following.

During his formative years living on the family farm he learned the value of hard work, perseverance and dedication to value principles. He excelled while attending Pleasant Valley School and East Fairmont High School. Dennis was very active in sports and had a special love for baseball. Unfortunately, on one fateful day he was hit in the left eye by a pitched ball leading to blindness. This incident would eventually have a significant impact on his life. His yearning for independence and his desire for entrepreneurship caused him to leave home at 16 to pursue his dreams.

His journey started in Cleveland, Ohio where he landed his first real job as small racing car mechanic. Dennis' appetite for hard work and desire for further technical knowledge led him to attend night school while at the same time driving large trucks for extra income. His technical skills and education ultimately led to jobs as a machinist and lathe operator. It was during this time that his technical skills were in demand for the war effort. He always felt a sense of pride and contribution to those serving in the armed forces. It was during his Ohio years that Dennis grew as an individual. His character and integrity won the trust of his peers and these qualities would ultimately be the value foundation for his life.

After several years in Ohio, Dennis embarked on a new opportunity in Colonial Beach, Virginia where he started a small food concession stand. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to acquire several other small businesses in the resort town. It would not be long until Dennis and his brother Delbert would develop one of the most successful casino businesses of its time. Little Reno and the Jackpot establishments proved to be an innovative approach because of its location and within a short time became one of the most successful casino businesses in the region.

As years passed "The Conner Brothers" brought economic growth to the tiny beach town. An amusement park was built, public facilities were enhanced and hotels and other businesses were either supported or expanded as a result of their enterprise. One of the most innovative approaches for expanding their business interests involved the development of the Reno Champagne Cruiser flights between Richmond and Washington, D.C. By now Dennis' business interests had continued to flourish with the likes of top entertainment names such has Guy Lombardo, Jimmy Dean, Charley Spivak and other Big Bands of the time as well as countless other entertainers. On September 7, 1957 he received national attention when the Saturday Evening Post ran a featured article about the Conner brother's business success. This represented the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to the principles he chose to live by.



Dennis eventually moved to Maryland and in true style purchased and developed Aqua-Land on the shores of the Potomac. This complex included an amusement park, zoo, marina, airport and truck stop and was a vision of his for many years. It was during this period that he became interested in land development and building. He bought the land for what would become a waterfront community called Cliffton on the Potomac. Unfortunately economic cycles were not kind to Dennis and the project never came to full fruition. On the building front he was very successful building several projects in Ocean City, Maryland. It is well known among all of Dennis' friends and business partners that he always maintained a sense of integrity and was always trustworthy almost to a fault.

Throughout Dennis' life he always maintained a balance between the personal and business side of life. Over the decades Leslie Victoria (Melcher) Conner was the love of his life and their commitment to each other will last forever. When family and friends converge on the Conner household Dennis and Leslie would always greet you with a smile and plenty of food. He was an avid chef and loved the nuances of cooking seafood. He was an accomplished pilot and his love for aviation was always at the core of his being. On days when Dennis was not at home attending to chores or his orange and banana trees you could find him golfing, fishing or hunting. Dennis was a lover of dogs owning many during his lifetime. Many friends have lamented that "if I come back to this earth I would want to be Denny Conner's dog". During his early years in Virginia he became an accomplished hunter of bear and deer and spent a great deal of his free time in the hills of Durbin, West Virginia where he owned a lodge and large track of prime hunting land. During the last 30 years of his life he became an ardent protector of wildlife and sensitive to environmental issues.

Dennis' only child, Patti, was a successful dietitian in Columbus, Ohio working at the Ohio State University and had a bright future in her chosen career. Her premature passing during the prime of her life was a heavy burden for a father to grasp. During his final years he reflected on his daughter's accomplishments but it was evident there was a wound that would never totally heal.

If Albert Einstein is right when he says "the value of a man should be seen in what he gives" then Dennis Ronley Conner was a very valuable man to society. Only his friends and the people who know him can vouch for what he has given to humanity. There are few men today who could fill his shoes. Denny thanks for the memories and who you were as a man.