Elizabeth Connors

We continue to mourn the loss of a remarkable woman.

Elizabeth “Billie” Connors Clancy passed away August 31, 2023, at the age of 77.

Born to Donald D. and Josephine Cornell and raised lovingly as a daughter by her uncle and aunt, George H. and K. Marie Foley in Randolph, Massachusetts, she is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Gerald E. Clancy; and her sisters, Clare R. Crossley and Donnarie Dillion.

She is survived by her children, Richard (Kris) Connors of Avon, MA, Christine Connors of Providence, RI, Michael J (Michael E. Lerner) Connors of Cleveland Heights, OH, and Christopher (Cheryl) Clancy of West Kingston, RI; her grandchildren Samantha (Harris Ainsley) Connors of Avon, MA, and Abigail Clancy of West Kingston, RI; her great-grandchild Aiden Ainsley of Avon, MA; and her brother Paul J. Foley of Plymouth, MA.

Billie was a mother at a young age, an incredibly loving and supportive one. And resourceful. Raising three children in the wilds of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she could sew anything and grow anything, and found ways to keep us all fed and feeling loved in scarce times. When able, she went back to school to further herself and provide a better future for her family. She graduated at the top of her class from Northern Michigan University with Bachelor and Master Degrees and began an impressive career in the field of Communication Disorders.

In 1986, Billie relocated to Rhode Island, where she accepted a position at the University of Rhode Island as the Director of the URI Speech and Hearing Center in the Department of Communicative Disorders. She was promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor in 1998, retiring in 2022 after 36 years of service to the university and the department.

During her tenure at URI, Billie was dedicated to supporting undergraduate and graduate students as they pursued their degrees in communicative disorders and speech and language pathology. She served an integral role in the development and delivery of both coursework and clinical practicum for the Masters program in speech and language pathology. She worked tirelessly to acquire and maintain clinical placement relationships throughout the community to ensure each graduate student received the highest quality clinical education possible. In 2006, she was honored with the URI Foundation Administrative Excellence Award. The committee compared Billie to an air traffic controller as she “makes sure that students are on course and land in clinical placements matched to their interests and abilities,” and deemed her “both an educator and ambassador” for the URI Speech and Hearing Center. Her commitment to inter-professional education and her passion for exemplary clinical practice were evident to both the students she taught and the clients she served. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Billie’s colleagues remember her as a beloved friend. Her warm personality and unwavering support made her a cherished member of the URI community.

In 1995, Billie married Gerald E. “Jerry” Clancy, with whom she lived in a happy home in Narragansett until his passing in 2015. Billie was crazy about children, especially her grandchildren. She loved walking near the ocean, was partial to chocolate and cheese, was known for her impeccable fashion sense, and she always kept at least one cat that she spoiled relentlessly. She loved cats. Hi Sherlock!

A Celebration of Billie’s Life will be held on May 16, 2024, from 5pm-10pm at The Towers in Narragansett, RI. Please join us by the ocean to share stories, cocktails and memories of her.