Fort Myers Offshore Holiday Fun Run To Celebrate Late ‘No Agenda’ Owner – Speed on the Water
Named this year to honor a popular go-fast boating enthusiast and Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats dealer in Southwest Florida who died late last month, the Fort Myers Offshore Brian Connelly Memorial Fun Run likely will be the best-attended event of the club’s 2023/2024 season. According to Fort Myers Offshore president Tim Hill, sign-ups for the Saturday, December 30, trek from the Sanibel Island Bridge to Fishermen’s Village on Punta Gorda for lunch are well ahead of where they’ve been in years past with only a week-and-a-half to go.
Captured here in his 47-foot Nor-Tech V-bottom, the late Brian Connelly will be celebrated in the Fort Myers Offshore event of 2023. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“Many members did not have their boats down here last year because of Hurricane Ian, but clearly they are back,” Hill explained. “Attendance for this event eclipses our other events I believe due in part to the proximity of our date to the Joey Gratton Memorial New Year’s Day Fun Run in Sarasota.”
Connelly was 76 years old when he died at his home in New Hampshire.
The event’s catered lunch will be served outdoors at Fisherman’s Village on Punta Gorda.
“This year’s run is dedicated to Brian, a longtime Nor-Tech customer and dealer, who passed away last month,” Hill said. “As in years past, Nor-Tech offered to sponsor the event with a donation to our scholarship fund. After the passing of Brian they wished to make the donation in honor of him and I thought we should dedicate the entire run to Brian.”
Nor-Tech’s Terry Sobo has lived and breathed the company for more than 20 years. Sobo, who started his marine industry career marketing and selling Black Thunder V-bottoms in his home state of Missouri, and his wife, Chrissy, counted Brian and Karen Connelly among their dearest friends.
“Brian and Karen bought their first Nor-Tech back in 2001, and then soon after, purchased a winter home here in Cape Coral,” Sobo said. “We immediately became great friends. More boats and more memories followed. I don’t think there’s any one person that I’ve spent more time boating with than Brian.
“Brian was not only a great customer but came to our rescue during a few lean years to help the company stay on its feet,” he added. “I know (Nor-Tech co-founder) Trond Schou is eternally grateful for everything he did for us.”
Featuring a catered lunch on Fisherman’s Village deck overlooking the docks, the Nor-Tech-presented event is one of two “designated fundraisers” for the not-for-profit, designated 501c3 club, which provides college and trade school scholarships to worthy students. Fort Myers Offshore members are required to donate no less than $100 per boat, though additional donations are more common than not.
Connelly started as a Nor-Tech customer and ended up as a dealer.
Said Hill, “Brian lived his life to the fullest with ‘No Agenda,’ which also happened to be the name of his 47 Nor-Tech. We hope his many friends and family will join us for the memorial fun run in his honor.”
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