May 11, 2021
Jay Branegan ’72 and Joe Connolly ’72 had the kind of college friendship that doesn’t end at graduation. They were fraternity brothers, traveled Europe by Eurail one summer and lived together their senior year in college and again after college when they both worked in Chicago.
Joe Connolly ’72 (left) and Jay Branegan ’72
“We were good friends sophomore year, but best friends after that summer in Europe,” Branegan said. The relationship continued throughout their lives, with one flying off to visit the other in their newest city and the pair staying in touch through letters.
So, when Connolly died suddenly last June, Branegan knew he wanted to honor his friend in some way at Cornell. He worked with Connolly’s friends and family around the world to develop the Joseph E. Connolly ’72 Memorial Prizes, which will be awarded to students starting in the spring of 2022. The prizes support students who want to look at the intersection of religion, politics