Scranton is mourning the death of its former mayor Jim Connorswho served as the city’s 28th mayor from 1990 to 2002 and then remained a community and political leader until his death.
James P. “Jimmy” Connors, 77, was known for his friendly, talkative manner and his ubiquitous presence in the community, along with his wife, Susan Blum Connors, during the years long after he left City Hall.
Connors also remained active in the Democratic party. On June 14, Connors held a roundtable discussion in Scranton with local seniors as part of the kickoff of “Seniors for Biden-Harris,” a national organizing coalition to mobilize key communities in the 2024 election, according to the Biden-Harris campaign.
Word of Connors’ death Wednesday prompted an outpouring of grief and well wishes to his family, as well as reflections on his impact on the city.
“The City of Scranton sadly acknowledges the passing of former Mayor James ‘Jimmy’ Connors,” Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said in a statement. “Mayor Connors cherished Scranton and cared passionately about the well-being of our residents. Jimmy never stopped being mayor; he remained a warm, jovial and reassuring presence at public events and was a source of wisdom for me personally. He will live on in Scranton as ‘the mayor’ and we will miss him dearly. Our hearts are with his wife Susie, his children and his entire family.”
Connors began his career in public service in the 1970s in city schools and devoted his time to numerous charities and organizations throughout his life, including Jewish Family Service, the Tour de Scranton, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program .
“Connors will be remembered for his tireless service to the city of Scranton, his continued activism in support of the city and especially its children, his colorful stories, his support for our hometown president Joe Biden, and his presence on the stage of Nay Aug Park. concerts,” the city statement said.
Bob Gattens, chairman of the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority, said, “What devastating news today about Mayor Connors. I have lost a true friend and Nay Aug has lost its strongest supporter.”
Others also noted that Jimmy and Susie, a retired teacher, were seemingly everywhere in the community, regularly attending or participating in various events and organizations.
“It’s a sad day for everyone who knew him,” Scranton City Controller John Murray said. “He was always a kind man and he spent tireless hours volunteering for the charities that were dear to him and his lovely wife Susie. He will be missed.”
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8, Moosic, said: “Marion and I mourn the loss of our long-time friend and a trusted mentor. While we mourn his passing, we also extend our sincere condolences to his beloved wife, Susie, his entire family and his many, many friends. The love and support he showered on the city was surpassed only by the unwavering affection shown to him by his fellow citizens.
A native of Minooka, Connors rose through the ranks of the city’s school district, community groups and City Hall, serving in various offices and positions until becoming mayor.
Connors graduated from Central High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in education and history from East Stroudsburg University.
At age 22, Connors was among the half million people who attended Woodstock in 1969 at Yasgur’s Farm in Bethel, New York.
“Suddenly you realized there were half a million of you,” Connors said in a 2019 article in The Times-Tribune about the 50th anniversary of The Woodstock Art and Music Fair. “It was a wonderful time and it confirmed the feelings of people who valued peace, love and brotherhood.”
Earlier this month, on June 7, during one of his frequent visits with Susie to Zummo’s Cafe coffee shop, Connors wore a silver and gold Woodstock pendant necklace.
That same day, Connors proudly spoke to a reporter about his granddaughter, actress Quinn Hemphill, who landed her biggest film role to date in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth installment in the Will Smith “Bad Boys” film franchise.
Connors was city police and fire chief, 1977-1979; Title One Administrator for the Scranton School District, 1979-1985; and a former president of the Minooka Neighborhood Association and Scranton Council of Neighborhoods.
Connors then spent four years as Scranton’s community development director in the 1986-1990 administration of his predecessor, former Republican Mayor David Wenzel.
Connors had switched parties, from Democratic to Republican, before running for mayor, but later switched back to Democrat in 2000 and became a Democratic stalwart.
Connors’ tenure as mayor was marked early on by the city’s designation as financially distressed under Act 47, a state law enacted in 1987 designed to help struggling municipalities.
Connors opposed the Scranton City Council’s Act 47 measure. He wanted the city to tackle its financial problems on its own and work with the city’s public safety unions. He also did not believe the city was even eligible for Act 47 oversight. But on October 23, 1991, the council unanimously agreed to request that the state government declare Scranton financially distressed and help chart a course for financial recovery. Connors vetoed the measure, but the council overrode it. A formal designation by the state followed on January 10, 1992.
The scarlet-letter designation might last three to five years, but it overshadowed the rest of Connors’ tenure and subsequent administrations as it lasted thirty years until the city finally successfully exited Act 47 in 2022.
Toward the end of his third term, Connors cited downtown developments, including the Mall at Steamtown and new movie theaters, bars and restaurants, the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center hotel under construction, and offices occupying the former Samter’s and Oppenheim buildings and Diversified Information Technology in the former Globe Store, as accomplishments for which he could take at least partial credit during his first 11 years as president.
He was also quick to credit the efforts of Governor Robert P. Casey, former U.S. Rep. Joseph M. McDade, the state’s U.S. Senators, local state legislators, city council members and others.
In 2002, Connors was among the first and largest local supporters of Democrat Ed Rendell in his quest for governor. Rendell then appointed Connors deputy director of the governor’s office in Northeastern Pennsylvania, a position he held until he resigned in 2009 to focus on family and volunteer work.
Connors was also honored by a park that opened in 2008 at 515 Orchard St. in the South Side, named in his honor by his successor, former Mayor Chris Doherty, who had defeated Connors in the 2001 Democratic mayoral primary. Connors Park was the city park. first new park in at least a decade.
In 2014, Connors served as the grand marshal of Scranton’s 53rd Parade Day after being elected by the St. Patrick’s Parade Association of Lackawanna County. The committee chose Connors in part to honor him for forging Scranton’s relationship with sister city Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland.
“The lights in the Electric City just got a little dimmer following the passing of Scranton Mayor James Connors,” Cartwright said. “He will be forever missed, but never forgotten.”
