Sept. 26, 1914July 20, 2020

As a surgeon at the National Naval Medical Center, Dr. Joseph R. Connelly treated John F. Kennedy during his term as president and future presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Gerald Ford.

The injury that brought President Kennedy into Dr. Connelly's treatment room "received some press at the time," said Dr. Connelly's son Joseph.

"JFK was in the Oval Office with his young daughter, Caroline, and while reaching down to retrieve a toy for her, he struck his forehead on the corner of his desk, causing a laceration, which my father sutured," he said.

His surgery on the future presidentsJohnson, who was vice president at the time, and Ford were private between doctor and patient, his son said.

Dr. Connelly also was assigned to the medical crew that treated the Project Mercury astronauts.

After retiring from the Navy in 1963, Dr. Connelly moved to Buffalo with his family and became a pioneering reconstructive plastic surgeon.

Joseph R. Connelly, M.D., died on July 20 at Canterbury Woods in Amherst. He was 105.

Born in Perth Amboy, N.J., Dr. Connelly grew up in Jersey City, N.J., where he graduated from St. Peters Grammar School, Lincoln High School and St. Peters College, magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree. At St. Peters, he was captain of the track team and was awarded the Philosophy Medal.

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Dr. Joseph R. Connelly, 105, treated three presidents and astronauts - Buffalo News