Connie Jean Cassidy, 80, of St. Joseph, passed away peacefully, with her family by her side, on Monday, December 14, 2020 at her home in St. Joseph. Connie was born March 23, 1940 in Benton Harbor to Anthony and Bernice (Brown) Alti. In 1958 when she was barely 18 years old, Connie’s beloved dance teacher passed away of cancer, and studio parents and students asked Connie to finish the dance season, as recital time was near. Connie agreed to continue, “just until she decided what she wanted to be when she grew up.” The Connie Cassidy School of Dance, has continued ever since, and “Miss Connie,” as she became known, has been loved by thousands of children and their parents for generations. How fortunate it was for all that she never did grow up. Known to love dogs nearly as much as she did dance, Connie adopted many retired greyhounds, whippets, and assorted mutts over the decades. During Connie’s last years of life, her beloved whippets WhoDo and Tegan were her constant companions, rarely straying far from her side. Connie is survived by her children, Cammie (Mark Winnell) Hernandez, and Patrick (Eileen Perlmeter) Cassidy; her grandchildren, Anthony and Caitlin Hernandez; her great granddaughter, Zoe Jane Blocker; her brother, Gilbert (Leslie) Alti; and nieces Kelly McGee Clark and Tracy McGee Schofield. She is preceded in death by her sister, Janice McGee; her dance and business partner, Ross McDowell; former husband and dearest friend, Tom Cassidy; and her parents. Services for Connie will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be given to Vision Outreach International, www.visionoutreach.org.