Connor's Crew NJ

A few weeks after his 10th birthday, Connor, who was a young, bright, and caring gentleman was taken too early from us. Connor was a student at Liberty Corner in Basking Ridge, NJ, just completing the 4th grade; his smile was infectious and to quote his grandfather Don (and chess partner), he was "10 going on 20".

Some of Connor's favorite things were his family and friends; he loved climbing to the top of his older sister Brianna's top bunk bed where the two siblings would bond and build pillow forts. When the sun started to set, Connor enjoyed staying up and watching the Harry Potter movies with his mother Alaina and sister Brianna.

His appreciation for life was apparent through every interaction and everyone who met him. Connor was always thinking of others and was truly the definition of selfless. When it came to cupcakes, there was no outsmarting Connor; he quickly figured out that if he celebrated a half birthday, he could get a half of cupcake - a special tradition he started with his Aunt Staci.

Alongside having a yummy cupcake for his birthday, Aunt Staci used to let Connor pick out a present he wanted and then they would enjoy a special sushi birthday dinner together. Connor was always ready and more than willing to go on adventures with his Grandma Liz! Whether it was spending quality time driving to school together or watching their favorite Spongebob episodes, it was always time well spent together.

When he wasn't playing chess with his grandfather Don, Connor could be found building one of his lego sets or watching the Disney movie Cars. He especially loved everything and anything to do with Stars Wars - so much that his family put Yoda on his tombstone. His favorite meal to eat was sushi but only from Tsuru in Basking Ridge - and yes, they knew his order by heart. (A California roll, spicy tuna roll, a side of vegetable fried rice, with two sides of spicy mayo.)

He leaves behind his loving mother Alaina, older sister Brianna, maternal grandparents Liz and Don Szymanski, Aunt Staci Beyer and husband Billy, cousin Liam, cousins Aidan and Mia Haluszka, and best friend Luca Millea and many extended family and friends.