Gary Conner was known for his curiosity and his ability to fix or create anything on the spot. In fact, his wife, Cassie, describes a time when they traveled to Ecuador and he fixed a local man’s prosthetic arm in just a few hours—without any prior knowledge of its workings. That’s the kind of mind Gary had, and he loved to share his knowledge with young science lovers.

Gary’s curiosity for the world, combined with his enthusiasm for teaching young minds, is what inspired Cassie Conner to establish the Gary Conner Fund for STEM. This fund will support students who participate in the Summer STEM Research Experience program at SOU and set aspiring researchers and scientists on a path of career discovery.

“What truly touched me about Gary was his ability to connect with everyone. He found new ways to explain things. It just showed his incredible way with people of all ages. He believed everyone deserved a chance to learn, and that’s why I know he would be so touched by this gift in his honor,” said Cassie.

Gary’s early life in Ohio was shaped by his engineer father. His natural curiosity blossomed at a young age when he took apart and rebuilt an old MG car. This spirit of inquiry propelled him towards a successful career. As a rocket engineer, Gary was responsible for many of the nozzle designs used on exploratory spacecrafts. He eventually cofounded a startup company focused on making high-resolution computer graphics. He was instrumental in establishing early adoption of off-shore manufacturing in South Korea and Japan. Cassie said that Gary’s friends often referred to him as “The Rocket Scientist.”

The Conners bonded over a love for wine and travel. After settling in the Applegate Valley, they planted and nurtured a 5-acre vineyard over 22 years. Their tempranillo grapes became the source for Troon Vineyard’s “Insomnia Port.” Gary was passionate about giving back, according to Cassie. He volunteered at a local school as a coach where he used his engineering expertise to work with the robotics team. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gary created face masks for local hospitals from his 3-D printer. He also volunteered regularly at Cantrall Buckley Park in Applegate.

“Setting up the scholarship fund felt like the right way to honor Gary. He loved learning new things, especially about science and technology. The way the program focuses on both research and education felt very much like him. Plus, the small university feels more personal, like something I could truly connect with, and where I could make a tangible difference,” said Cassie.