John Connelly, founder of Oboz, has died.
The outdoor industry veteran died on August 22 after battling various cancers for years, Oboz confirmed in a statement.
“John was a visionary, the ultimate nonconformist and an eternal optimist,” Oboz President Amy Beck said in a statement. “He will always be a part of Oboz, from the development of our Outside + Bozeman name to our commitment to community, trees and this beautiful place we are privileged to call home.”
Connelly’s career in the outdoor industry spanned 50 years. He started at an outdoor store in Richmond, Virginia, and over the years worked for more than 15 outdoor footwear brands, including Five Ten.
He founded Oboz in 2007, a brand that quickly became a popular choice among outdoor adventurers. In 2018, Connelly sold Oboz to one of his first retail partners, Kathmandu.
In addition to his career in the outdoor industry, Connelly was also an entrepreneur with a passion for sports car racing and in 2020 he combined his two passions with Chicane shoes.
Oboz said in a statement that it will honor his legacy with a company walk at noon on Friday, themed “A Walk in John’s Shoes.” The brand encourages anyone who knew Connelly or has ever worn Oboz to do the same.
“The Oboz family sends their love and condolences to his family and friends,” Beck said. “We will be sure to toast John with some Agwa on Friday.” Oboz said Agwa, a Bolivian liquor, has become synonymous with the brand when it comes to toasts at events and celebrations.
About the author
Peter Verry is the senior news and features editor for sports and outdoors at Footwear News. He covers both fast-moving and ultra-competitive markets, conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing articles about sneakers and outdoor footwear. He’s a lifelong sneaker junkie (and shares his latest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on the trail. He holds an MA in Journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at [email protected].
