Vernon "Vern" Ian McConnell died on June 15, 2021 at home surrounded by loving family and friends following a brief illness. He was 92.

Vern was born on August 12, 1928 in Los Angeles, California to the late George McConnell and Helen Vernon.

Vern served in the US Merchant Marines and Navy. He attended the American College of Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. He was a dedicated athlete and was a lifetime member of the Amateur Athletic Union. In his youth, he was due to participate in the Olympics for cycling, but the games were cancelled due to the War.

In his professional life, Vern represented the defense and security interests in satellite communications, retiring as the Director of Telecommunications Policy at NSA. He briefed Congressional committees, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Office of the President domestically and served as part of the US delegations to NATO and the United Nations on many occasions. He spent the bulk of his career attending conferences in London, Geneva and Brussels, much enjoyed his work and made lifelong friends along the way. He was chairman of the IEEE as well as chairman in the Maritime Administration in June of 1953. His most cherished achievement was to receive the Meritorious Civilian Service Award from NSA for his dedication to the agency's mission.

Vern was also an avid stamp and coin collector. He enjoyed delving into the genealogy of his family and could often be found in the library during his many overseas work-related trips.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Daniel Brennan McConnell, and his daughter Fiona Marie McConnell who passed at birth, and his cousins Raymond Will and Gloria Napoli. Survivors include his sons Patrick Ian McConnell and Kevin David McConnell; his daughters Kerry Kathleen McConnell and Bridget Mary McConnell; his special daughter Meredith Wallace Claborn; his sister, Reverend Sheila Weldon; his ex-spouse Virginia McConnell; as well as his grandchildren, Cory McConnell, Finn Hughes, Kurt McConnell, Karl McConnell, Sasha Edwards, Danielle Vogl, Brennan McConnell, and Nicole McConnell; and his great-grandchildren Bentley Vogl, Chloe McConnell and Landyn McConnell.

Family and friends may visit on Thursday, June 24, 2021 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care, P.A., 495 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD, 21146. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 11am at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 689 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD, 21146. Interment is to follow at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Boys Town, which he held near and dear to his heart at:

https://support.boystown.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3160&mfc_pref=T&3160.donation=form1