BOSTON – On Tuesday, thousands packed St. Ignatius Church at Boston College to say farewell to longtime Boston philanthropist and advertising icon Jack Connors. Connors died after a battle with cancer at the age 82, but his impact on the city will live on for decades. 

“The only funeral that I’ve been to that’s been bigger than this was that of Pope Benedict,” Cardinal Sean O’Malley said.

Boston mourns Jack Connors

Connors founded the city’s powerful Hill Holliday ad agency in 1968. But his impact and influence went far beyond the business world, advising politicians and raising hundreds of millions of dollars for Catholic schools.   

“It’s powerful how many lives dad touched,” his son, John Connors III, said. 

Tuesday’s funeral brought out past and present city and state leaders and industry giants, all of whom knew Jack well and who Jack called on to make a difference in the community. 

“I was watching the giants, the legends of Boston come down the aisle, and Jack pulled everyone together again,” Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said.

Through prayer, reflection and faith, Jack will be remembered as living a life filled with acts of kindness, joy and huge accomplishments.

Connors’s legacy of generosity  

“He passed away just 45 days after he raised a record $13.5 million for Camp Harbor View. He went out on top,” John Connors III said.

“When I think about the legacy I think about the thousand kids who are an island this summer because of him and love they are experiencing out there,” said Lisa Fortnberry, the executive vice president of Camp Harbor View.

Suffolk Chairman and CEO John Fish says the city has a big void to fill. “Jack would always say, ‘What can I do to help you? What can I do to help others?” Fish said.

 Jack Connors leaves behind 4 children, 13 grandchildren and his wife of 58 years, Eileen Connors. 

“Eileen’s House is a halfway house for women in Dorchester. In some ways, it’s Jack’s crown jewel because it’s in recognition of Eileen. Now, there are women graduating that house reuniting with their families, reuniting with their children, turning their lives around,” Walsh said.

Cardinal O’Malley said Jack Connors legacy will live on through others. “He was a great man. And I hope his life will inspire more people to that greatness. Jack was not a celebrity; he was a hero. He was a man of deeds. He was a man for whom the community and the needs of others was a priority.”

The Boston Red Sox have been looking for ways to add to the bullpen and reportedly found an option on Tuesday afternoon.

Boston has been one of the more aggressive teams in baseball with the trade deadline just a few hours away. The Red Sox are right in the mix for an American League Wild Card spot and desperately need to improve the bullpen.

After much speculation, the Red Sox reportedly landed a player who could help in Lucas Sims in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray.

“Trade: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring reliever Lucas Sims from the Cincinnati Reds, according to sources familiar with the deal,” Murray said.

Boston’s move to acquire Sims is somewhat surprising because his name wasn’t tossed around much ahead of the deal. The Red Sox have been linked to a handful of players with Miami Marlins All-Star Tanner Scott being the biggest name over the last 24 hours.

Plus, the Red Sox are thin on lefties in the bullpen so some have speculated that would be a target ahead of the deadline. Sims is a right-handed reliever with a 3.57 ERA so far this season in 43 appearances with a 40-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35 1/3 innings pitched.

Sims fills a need for Boston as a reliever in general. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Red Sox continue their pursuit of bullpen help over the next few hours with a lefty still needed.

More MLB: Yankees Cut Ex-Red Sox Top Prospect Acquired In Mookie Betts Trade

It’s a new era for Boston College.

The Eagles football program has had multiple changes in the offseason. Some of those changes include new faces at defensive coordinator in Tim Lewis, who is working his first collegiate job since 1994, and defensive line coach Jeff Comissiong, who will be working his second stint of his career with the Eagles (2007-12).

Although the coaches look different, the team retained a majority of its players which included 15 starters. With numerous players from last year’s defensive line returning, a group that helped the Eagles rank No. 70 in total defense in 2023, the squad looks to be in a solid place to continue its improvement in 2024.

Below is a look at the projected depth chart for the defensive line for the upcoming season.

Projected Depth Chart:

DE: Neto Okpala, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edwin Kolenge, Clive Wilson, Quintayvious Hutchins

DL: Kwan Williams, Gilbert Tongrongou, Ty Clemons, Regen Terry, Josiah Griffin.

DT: George Rooks, Sedarius McConnell, Owen Stoudmire.

NT: Cam Horsley, Nigel Tate, Caleb Jones.

This is an ongoing series on Boston College Eagles On SI. Check out our other position previews here. Offensive Line | Tight Ends | Wide Receivers | Running Backs | Quarterbacks.