Lasting Memories

Richard Conners
1935-March 24, 2006
Woodside, California

Richard "Dick" Conners of Woodside died unexpectedly on March 24. He was 71.

The former owner of several Chevron stations, including those in Portola Valley and Millbrae, he had lived in Woodside for 44 years and was an active volunteer in many aspects of town life.

Mr. Conners was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, and grew up in Oakland and San Francisco, where he attended Lincoln High School. He also took classes at the College of San Mateo, and served in the Army in the Korean War.

He and his wife, Sheila, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December. They moved to Woodside in 1962, and their three sons Michael, Matthew and Terry attended Woodside Elementary School and Woodside High School.

Mr. Conners was very active in the town and in many of his sons' activities, including stints as Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader, coach and board member of AYSO soccer, and member of the Woodside Recreation Committee. He helped found the local AYSO league and the Rec Committee, and helped to bring the first soccer fields and indoor soccer to Woodside.

"He touched a lot of kids' lives," said his wife, and that effort was recognized when the Woodside Elementary School PTA named him Citizen of the Year.

He loved the outdoors, one of the things that originally attracted him to Woodside, and was a fly fisherman, golfer and hiker. He worked out at the Canada College gym nearly every day.

Mr. Conners was also known for his warm sense of humor. "He loved to joke with people and kid around," said his wife, who remembers often seeing "that little twinkle in his green eyes."

Mr. Conners retired in 1992, but he had loved his job running service stations "because he was helping people," she said. He was the local coordinator for the tax counseling team at the Redwood City Veterans Memorial Senior Center and co-chair of their advisory council, and had been an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau. And he was a loyal volunteer at the Woodside Village Church rummage sales.

His generosity toward others extended beyond his death when, as he had requested, many of his body parts, including skin, bone and his corneas, were donated.

In addition to his wife, Sheila, Mr. Conners is survived by his sons Michael of Chicago, Matthew of Kirkland, Washington, and Terry of Sunnyvale; and three grandchildren.