John 'Jack' O'Connor
John [Jack] O'Connor was born in Stamford on July 17, 1928 and died peacefully in Branford's Hospice on April 22, 2011. Jack is survived by his devoted companion, Saylor Heidmann; his sisters Joan O'Connor, CSJ and Maureen Landry; his four children by Gail Ward O'Connor, Tara Bartlett (Michael Bartlett), Meghan O'Connor (Michael Paleski), Kerry Chernovetz (Brad Chernovetz), and Sean O'Connor; his son by Karen Kushman, Michael Kushman; his grandchildren Alexandra (Omar Ziyadeh), Keara, Connor, Madeline, Sarah, Grace, Elizabeth Mae, Cameron, Brady, Reilly; and great granddaughter Dior as well as numerous nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. Jack graduated from Fairfield Preparatory School in 1946; from Fordham University with a BS in Education in 1952, and from Yale University School of Medicine with an MPH in 1959. His illustrious career followed this path: Assistant Camping and Recreation Director at the Connecticut Society for Crippled Children and Adults; Executive Director of the Naugatuck Valley Rehabilitation Center in Waterbury; Assistant Director of Professional Services at The Genessee Hospital in Rochester, New York; Consultant to Yale University and the State of Connecticut regarding the establishment of the Connecticut Mental Health Center; Administrator, Connecticut Mental Health Center. Associate Dean for Administration, Yale University School of Medicine; Lecturer in Public Health and Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Associate Dean for Planning, Yale University School of Medicine; Executive Director of the Faulkner Hospital in Boston; Superintendent of the Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton, Massachusetts; Project Administrator of the Ambulatory Care Network at Montefiore Medical Center; Assistant Vice-President for Community Affairs for Montefiore and finally Vice Provost at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn. Jack also consulted with several hospitals during his career, including Connecticut Hospice, the Bridgeport Hospital , the Milford Hospital, the Sharon Hospital and the Backus Hospital. Jack was a passionate fisherman, gourmet chef, reader, music and sports fan, photographer, and gardener. He took up portraiture in his retirement and proved to have a marvelous eye and aptitude for it. He was very involved with family and friends, and loved to tell stories about all of them. Jack was Irish to the core, and in his later years he returned once more to 'the old sod' and walked on the land that his ancestors had farmed. Funeral from BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 WHITNEY AVE., HAMDEN Thursday morning April 28 at 9:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Celeberated in St. Joseph Church, 129 Edwards St. New Haven, at 9:30. Friends may visit with his family on Wednesday from 5-8 at the funeral home. Interment in Grove Street Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Jack's honor can be made to Tabor House, founded by Sr. Laura Herold in collaboration with Jack's sister Joan (taborhousect@yahoo.com), or Connecticut Mental Health Center, facilities and programs administrated by John O'Connor from 1964 to 1976 Connecticut Mental Health, or Save Long Island Sound where Jack loved to fish Save Long Island Sound All three agencies celebrate a great life, broadly lived.
A Good Man & Mentor. Some people come into your life and make an unforgetable impression. Jack was one of those people. We loved his creative energy and how much fun it was to work with him on his construction projects. We will think of him often with fond memories and fishing for Bluefish @ Plum Island! Safe journey Jack.
Meghan, Our condolences to you and your family. We did not know your Dad but we know his wonderful daughter. We are truly sorry for your loss.
Remembering a good, kind, generous man. Condolences to his wonderful family.
Dear Aunt Joan and Mom (Maureen), I am so sorry for the loss of your only brother, and I hope that many happy memories with Uncle Jack will come to mind and ease your pain. Somehow I can still picture him teasing you from kingdom come. To Tara, Kerry, Meghan, Sean, and Micheal, we love you and will be forever grateful to your father who was instrumental in keeping our Landry-O’Connor bond strong. Oh, how he loved each of you so much! I loved how he would talk with pride about each of you; and he always found similarities between you and his Canadian nieces and nephews. It made us feel so close to you, in spite of the distance. Saylor, you are as tender-hearted and as loving as Uncle Jack and his children. We thank you for your love and your visits to Canada with Uncle Jack. Love, Sharon (and Hugh, Maddie, and Hugh Edmond).
Jack was a wonderful person and will be missed greatly.
Saylor and O’Connor family we extend our heartfelt sympathy! May God hold you securely in His loving arms of grace and mercy in this time of your bereavement. Just learned of your loss a few minutes ago! God bless and keep you forever more!