Virginia S. Connolly

Virginia M. Connolly ( Straughan; June 25, 1914 – August 14, 1984) was an American Republican politician who served in the Connecticut House of Representatives. From 1971 to 1973, she represented the 39th district, and from 1973 to 1981, the 16th district.

Personal life and education Connolly was born Virginia M. Straughan on June 25, 1914, in Manchester, Connecticut. Connolly graduated from Hartford Hospital's School of Nursing in 1932 and from St. Joseph College in 1951, where she earned a bachelor's degree in biology. She performed postgraduate research on public health and administration at Harvard University. She was married to James Cyril Connolly, and together they had two children.

Outside of her political career, Connolly worked as a school nurse, a staff nurse for the Hartford Visiting Nursing Association, and in the surgical department of Hartford Hospital. She served as an interim director of the Hartford branch of the American Cancer Society, on the advisory boards of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and on the Connecticut Easterseals Board of Directors.

In May 1972, Connolly and fellow Republican Ruth H. Clark argued against a measure in the Connecticut General Assembly that allowed abortion "only when the life of the expectant mother was threatened." The measure was passed, but Connecticut's abortion statutes were ruled unconstitutional by a federal district court in September 1972.

While serving in the House of Representatives, Connolly was a member of the Public Health and Safety Committee, and for two years, she served as its chairwoman.

Death Connolly died on August 14, 1984, in West Simsbury, Connecticut. She was 70.