Most people associate the Connick family of New Orleans with Harry Connick Jr. performing jazz standards or captivating audiences on cinema. The person behind that famed grin is as wonderful, but less interested in the spotlight. Dr. Suzanne Connick Jamison, Harry’s older sister, has left a legacy of decades of military duty, medical profession, and quiet devotion to helping others.
Growing Up in the Crescent City
In Lakeview, New Orleans, music, law, and public service molded Suzanna’s childhood. Her parents were unusual. Harry Connick Sr. was Orleans Parish District Attorney from 1973 until 2003. Her mother, Anita Frances Livingston, was one of New Orleans’ first female justices and a Louisiana Supreme Court justice. Along with books and legal papers, the family owned record businesses and filled their house with music.
But tragedy struck early. When Suzanna was a teenager, her mother died of ovarian cancer in 1981. Anita was 54. The family learned perseverance and life’s fragility from that loss. Suzanna learned how to balance duty and devotion from her father, who raised two children while working.
Two Careers, One Calling
Dr. Jamison took a challenging journey after graduating from medical school. She trained in internal medicine and psychiatry, focusing on mind-body links. Around 2004, she joined the US. Army Reserve as a commissioned physician, starting a 38-year career in military medicine.
Suzanna began her civilian practice in Roanoke, Virginia, with Carilion Clinic and Roanoke Memorial. She taught medical students, treated patients, and managed her military and medical duties. She rose via deployments and crisis responses to become a Colonel.
Suzanna went to conflict zones in New York City hospitals in 2020 due to COVID-19. From New Orleans, she treated critically sick patients in Manhattan ICUs, following her parents’ example. Harry Jr. praised Suzanna as a hero on social media, but she likely declined the acclaim. Her kind seldom seek notoriety.
She retired from the Army Reserve around 2023 after nearly four decades of service. Not many physicians maintain that dual commitment for so long. It requires a particular kind of discipline, one that runs deep in the Connick bloodline.
The Connick Family Tree
Suzanna’s family history recalls New Orleans. Her paternal grandparents, James Paul and Jessie Catherine Connick, settled in Louisiana. Her mother’s New York-born Levys are Jewish.
Harry Connick Sr., her father, was a prominent New Orleans personality until his January 2024 death aged 97. Suzanna and Harry Jr. were there at his bedside at his passing, marking the end of a significant legal career in the city. Harry Sr. married Londa Matherne in 1995 after losing their mother in 1981. Londa was a family member till his death.
Marriage and Motherhood
Wyn Jamison, Suzanna’s husband, values seclusion above exposure. They had Lauren Connick Jamison, the next generation of this renowned family. Suzanna’s family is less visible than her uncle’s with supermodel Jill Goodacre and their kids Georgia Tatum, Charlotte, and Kate.
But family gatherings bring everyone together. Suzanna is aunt to Harry Jr.’s children, and the bonds between cousins, siblings, aunts, and uncles remain strong despite geographic distance and different career paths.
A Brother’s Pride
Harry Connick Jr. has always shown admiration for his sister. His 2016 Harry talk show included her as a “Leading Lady,” offering viewers a rare peek of the lady who shaped him. He frequently posts about her military promotions, medical accomplishments, and Army retirement on social media.
“My hero,” he wrote more than once. For someone who has performed for presidents and packed concert halls worldwide, those words carry weight. Suzanna gave him something fame never could: a model of service without applause, achievement without fanfare.
Their relationship reflects the values instilled by parents who believed in contributing rather than consuming, in serving rather than being served. Both siblings succeeded wildly in different arenas, one under bright lights and the other in hospital corridors and military bases.
FAQ
What is Dr. Suzanna Connick’s medical specialty?
Dr. Suzanna Connick Jamison is board certified in both psychiatry and internal medicine. This dual specialization allows her to treat both mental health conditions and physical illnesses, understanding how they often intertwine in patient care.
How long did Suzanna Connick serve in the military?
She served in the U.S. Army Reserve for approximately 38 years, retiring around 2023 with the rank of Colonel. Her service included deployments and crisis responses, notably treating COVID-19 patients in New York City during the 2020 pandemic.
Where does Suzanna Connick practice medicine?
She practices in Roanoke, Virginia, affiliated with Carilion Clinic and Roanoke Memorial Hospital. She has also been involved in medical education and teaching in addition to patient care.
Who are Suzanna Connick’s parents?
Her father was Harry Connick Sr., who served as Orleans Parish District Attorney from 1973 to 2003. Her mother was Anita Frances Livingston Connick, a pioneering female judge and Louisiana Supreme Court justice who died from ovarian cancer in 1981.
Does Suzanna Connick have children?
Yes, she has at least one child, Lauren Connick Jamison, with her husband Wyn Jamison. The family maintains a relatively private life compared to her brother’s public profile.
What is Suzanna Connick’s relationship with Harry Connick Jr.?
She is his older sister and remains very close to him. Harry frequently praises her publicly, calling her his hero and highlighting her military and medical service. They were both present at their father’s bedside when he passed away in January 2024.
