Gerry Connolly: Longtime Virginia Congressman and NATO Parliamentary Ass

Gerry Connolly was an American politician who represented Virginia's 11th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 until his death. Born Gerald Edward Connolly on March 30, 1950, in Boston, Massachusetts, he spent decades in public service in Northern Virginia.

Connolly chaired the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 2003 to 2009 and was first elected to Congress in 2008. He served as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2020 to 2022 and co-sponsored the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act, which passed the House in 2014. The Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked him the most effective legislator in the 117th Congress.

Connolly married Cathy Smith in 1973 and had one child. He announced an esophageal cancer diagnosis in 2024 and died at his home in Mantua, Virginia, on May 21, 2025, at age 75. Remembered as a hardworking public servant and a devoted community member, he also acted in several shows with a community theater in Fairfax.

Achievements: Chaired the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (2003-2009), elected to the U.S. House (2008), President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (2020-2022), ranked most effective legislator in the 117th Congress.

Birth: March 30, 1950 - Boston, Massachusetts.

Profession: Politician.

Interesting Facts: Connolly was a company member of The Providence Players of Fairfax, a community theater, and acted in several of its shows.