John Connelly, Founder of Oboz, Dies at 77

John Connelly, founder of Oboz, has died. He was 77.

The outdoor industry veteran passed away on Aug. 22 after years of battling various cancers, Oboz confirmed in a statement.

“John was a visionary, the ultimate non-conformist and a forever optimist,” Oboz president Amy Beck said in a statement. “He will always be a part of Oboz, from devising name our, Outside + Bozeman, to our commitment to community, trees and this beautiful place that we get to call home.”

Connelly’s career in the outdoor industry spanned 50 years. He got his start at an outdoor shop in Richmond, Va., and over the years he worked for more than 15 outdoor footwear brands, including Five Ten.

He founded Oboz in 2007, a brand that quickly became a go-to among outdoor adventurers. In 2018, Connelly sold Oboz to one of its first retailer partners, Kathmandu.

Aside from his career in the outdoor industry, Connelly was an entrepreneur with a love of sports car racing, and in 2020 married the two with Chicane footwear.

Oboz said in a statement that it will honor his legacy with a noon-time “A walk in John’s shoes” company hike on Friday, and the brand is encouraging anyone who either knew Connelly or has ever worn Oboz to do the same.

“The Oboz family sends love and condolences to his family and friends,” Beck said. “We’ll be sure to toast John with a little Agwa on Friday.” Oboz said Agwa, a Bolivian liqueur, has become synonymous with the brand for toasts at events and celebrations.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.