Dr. Mary Jean Connell

Dr. Mary Jean Connell, a devoted physician, educator, wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was 66.

Mary was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Gaston and Jean Connell, the fifth of six children. A bright and energetic child, Mary was full of curiosity and wonder from the start. She excelled in academics and athletics at Xavier College Prep before earning her undergraduate degree in Journalism from Arizona State University in 1980. She wrote for both Xavier and ASU’s school papers (including as the Editor of Xavier’s XPress), and competed on the swim teams.

She earned her M.D. from Georgetown University College of Medicine in 1985. After graduating, she returned to Arizona to complete her internship, residency (Diagnostic Radiology), and fellowship (Pediatric Radiology) at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She went on to serve for decades as a radiologist at Maricopa Medical Center/ Valleywise Health, where she held numerous leadership and academic roles. Notably, she founded and served as Program Director for its radiology residency program. Dr. Connell was also a beloved faculty member at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (Radiology Director and Clinical Associate Professor) and Creighton University School of Medicine (Radiology Director and Clinical Associate Professor).

Mary’s dedication to teaching and her impact on the medical community cannot be overstated. Her mentorship and service to the students and residents who crossed her path has shaped countless lives. She was a fierce and valued advocate for her patients, medical students, and residents.

Above all, Mary will be remembered and beloved as a mother. She raised her two daughters with a love beyond compare. She loved her step-children like her own, co-parented gracefully with her first husband and his family, and created a beautifully blended family that most can only dream of. She deeply connected with friends, extended family, and colleagues.

Mary lived with tremendous vitality and spirit. She embraced movement in all forms—yoga, cycling, dancing, bodybuilding, weightlifting, taekwondo, walking her dog Ruthie, and a myriad of adventures with her husband, Jeremy. She found peace in tending to her garden, joy in pouring love and creativity into her culinary creations, and fulfillment in nurturing those around her. Whether mentoring a student, reading to a grandchild, or planting a seed, she brought the same warmth, humility, and strength to everything she did. Though she was not one to sit still, Mary always found joy, peace, and gratitude in the present moment, until the very last.

Mary is survived by her husband, Jeremy Mussman, her soulmate for the past 18 years; her four children, Julie (Benjamin) Birk, Sarah (Scott) Penny, Logan (Chrissy) Mussman, and Aaron Mussman; and five cherished grandchildren, James, Charles, Hannah, Alexandria, and Lincoln. Mary is also survived by her five siblings: Patrick, Cathleen, Susan, Janice, and Barbara, as well as her first husband, Ted (the father of her daughters). She was preceded in death by her parents, Gaston and Jean Connell.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Desert Botanical Garden, Attention: Tribute Program, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008 or made online at www.dbg.org.

We will join together to celebrate Mary’s life on October 4, 2025 at 9:00 am in the Dorrance Center at the Desert Botanical Garden.