Thomas “Tom” George Connell
SEPTEMBER 24, 1950 – AUGUST 12, 2025
Thomas George Connell was born in Orlando on September 24, 1950. He was a true Floridian and spent his entire life in the “Sunshine State”. He was a graduate of Tavares High School, Class of 1968; Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting; the University of Central Florida with a master’s degree, and Phoenix University with an MBA. While in Tallahassee at FSU, he married his first wife, Maria, with whom he had two children, Christopher T. (Marie) of Cape Canaveral, and Janine C. (Wilbur) Hyatt of Lake Wales and Columbia, Kentucky.
Tom has been blessed with four grandchildren: Kathleen Hyatt of Lakeland, Athena Connell of Melbourne, Liam (14) and Garrett (11) Connell of Cape Canaveral.
Tom worked as a Financial Analyst and had a 33-year career at Walt Disney World, a 15-year career at Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt schoolbook publishers, in Orlando, followed by a seven-year career at Hyatt Farms in Lake Wales.
Tom was the husband of Jane (Palumbo) Connell of Winter Haven, whom he married on July 28, 2021.
Among Tom’s hobbies and interests included Bible Study, watching his FSU Noles play football, canoeing, biking, and reading, especially history. He was a member of the Lake Buena Vista Rotary and a past president.
Tom leaves his beloved wife, Jane, his children and grandchildren, his sister, Cindy (Richard) Eichelberger of Leesburg, a niece, Jennie (Eustis) and a nephew, Joey (Eustis), as well as his two dogs, Moose and Squirrel.
A gathering of family and friends for Tom will be held Sunday, August 31, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at CenterPoint Church, Winter Haven, Florida, followed by a service at 4:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P. O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, PA 21741, [email protected]; or to CenterPoint Church Winter Haven, FL 33884, centerpointchurch.org.
