Elizabeth Connelly

Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Connelly (June 19, 1928 – May 25, 2006) was a politician from Staten Island, New York who represented the North Shore community from 1973 to 2000. She was the first woman to win elective office to any district encompassing Staten Island.

Life She was born Elizabeth Ann Keresey on June 19, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York City to John Walter and Alice Marie (Mallon) Keresey. She grew up in Brooklyn and the Bronx. After finishing high school Connelly began work at Pan American World Airways in 1946, where she met future husband Robert V. Connelly in 1948. They were married on September 6, 1952 and later moved to Staten Island, New York to raise a family. Elizabeth and Robert had four children together: Alice, Robert Jr., Margaret and Therese.

Connelly died on May 25, 2006, at her home in Westerleigh, Staten Island.

Political career She entered politics as a Democrat in 1966, joining the North Shore Democratic Club and elected to the Democratic County Committee, serving as a zone leader from 1972 to 1974. Connelly was elected in November 1973 to the New York State Assembly, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Edward J. Amann Jr. to the New York Court of Claims. Connelly was re-elected several times and remained in the Assembly until 2000, sitting in the 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th, 185th, 186th, 187th, 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st, 192nd and 193rd New York State Legislatures. A community center, named for her was also opened around the same time. The NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities holds the Elizabeth A. Connelly Memorial Conference on Autism & Related Conditions annually.

A collection of Connelly's correspondence, newsletters, reports, press releases, news clippings, public hearing testimony, photographs and awards is available at the Archives and Special Collections of The College of Staten Island.