Obituary of Thomas J. O'Connor Jr. THOMAS J. O'CONNOR JR. Virginian Pilot - 01-29-2003 SUFFOLK - Thomas J. O'Connor, Jr., 77, of Oak Island, died Jan. 27, 2003. In 1979 Mr. OConnor founded and became president of O'Connor & Company, Inc. He was born in Presque Isle, Maine, but he spent most of his early life in Wayland, N.Y. He was the son of the late Thomas J. and Ella T. OConnor. Survivors include his wife, Alice H. OConnor; daughter, Jane O. Smith; son, Thomas J. OConnor, III all of Suffolk; sister, Teresa O. Salzier of Dublin, Ohio; grandchildren, Laura T. Smith, Sarah T. Smith, Sadie H. O'Connor and Thomas J. OConnor IV; step-granddaughter, Annie E. Smith; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. OConnor was an active member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Suffolk. He graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. and served in the 86th Infantry, Blackhawk Division during World War II. He served in both the European and Pacific Theaters of action and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. In addition, he served as chairman of the National Peanut Council, the National Peanut Brokers Association and the Virginia-Carolina Peanut Association. He formerly served as vice-chairman of the Obici Hospitals Board of Directors and on the Advisory Board of Directors of the First Virginia Bank. He was a charter member and past president of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society, a past president of the Suffolk Lions Club and served as chairman of the Board of Directors of Morgan Memorial Library. Formerly, Mr. OConnor served as chairman of the Suffolk-Nansemond Chamber of Commerce, as board member of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. He was a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars and the Jolly Boys. The funeral will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in St. Marys Catholic Church by Father Joseph Slattery. The family will receive friends in the church hall following the services. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimers Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, P.O. Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950. Odell: Fred Burgess Odell: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - Friday, January 3, 2003 [Thomas J. O'Connor, Jr was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– Thomas J. O'Connor Jr., aged 77, of Oak Island, passed away on 27 Jan 2003. He founded and led O'Connor & Company, Inc. in 1979. A native of Presque Isle, Maine, he lived in Wayland, N.Y., and later moved to Suffolk. He was a dedicated veteran of World War II, serving in both the European and Pacific Theaters. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. The funeral for Thomas J. O'Connor Jr. was held on Thursday at 2 p.m. in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Suffolk. Father Joseph Slattery officiated. The family welcomed friends at the church hall afterward. Burial was private. Friends were received at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the day prior to the funeral. ––– Transcript ––– THOMAS J. O'CONNOR JR. Virginian Pilot - 29 Jan 2003 SUFFOLK - Thomas J. O'Connor, Jr., 77, of Oak Island, died 27 Jan 2003. In 1979 Mr. O'Connor founded and became president of O'Connor & Company, Inc. He was born in Presque Isle, Maine, but he spent most of his early life in Wayland, N.Y. He was the son of the late Thomas J. and Ella T. O'Connor. Survivors include his wife, Alice H. O'Connor; daughter, Jane O. Smith; son, Thomas J. O'Connor, III all of Suffolk; sister, Teresa O. Salzier of Dublin, Ohio; grandchildren, Laura T. Smith, Sarah T. Smith, Sadie H. O'Connor and Thomas J. O'Connor IV; step-granddaughter, Annie E. Smith; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. O'Connor was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Suffolk. He graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. and served in the 86th Infantry, Blackhawk Division during World War II. He served in both the European and Pacific Theaters of action and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. In addition, he served as chairman of the National Peanut Council, the National Peanut Brokers' Association and the Virginia-Carolina Peanut Association. He formerly served as vice-chairman of the Obici Hospital's Board of Directors and on the Advisory Board of Directors of the First Virginia Bank. He was a charter member and past president of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society, a past president of the Suffolk Lions Club and served as chairman of the Board of Directors of Morgan Memorial Library. Formerly, Mr. O'Connor served as chairman of the Suffolk-Nansemond Chamber of Commerce, as board member of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. He was a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars and the Jolly Boys. The funeral will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in St. Mary's Catholic Church by Father Joseph Slattery. The family will receive friends in the church hall following the services. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, P.O. Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950. ––– Vital Statistics ––– |------------------------------------------| | Field | Value | |-------|----------------------------------| | Name | Thomas J. O'Connor Jr. | | Age | 77 years | | Birth | 27 Dec 1925, Presque Isle, Maine | | Death | 27 Jan 2003, Suffolk, Virginia | |------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |--------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | |-------------------------|--------------------|---------------------| | Thomas J. O'Connor Jr. | Decedent | Oak Island, Suffolk | | Alice H. O'Connor | Spouse | Suffolk | | Thomas J. O'Connor, III | Son | Suffolk | | Jane O. Smith | Daughter | Suffolk | | Teresa O. Salzier | Sister | Dublin, Ohio | | Laura T. Smith | Grandchild | Suffolk | | Sarah T. Smith | Grandchild | Suffolk | | Sadie H. O'Connor | Grandchild | Suffolk | | Thomas J. O'Connor IV | Grandchild | Suffolk | | Annie E. Smith | Step-Granddaughter | Suffolk | |--------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |------------------------------| | Field | Value | |----------|-------------------| | Location | Suffolk, Virginia | | Name | Virginian Pilot | | Date | 29 Jan 2003 | | Edition | N/A | | Section | N/A | | Page | N/A | |------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Founder and President of O'Connor & Company, Inc. • Graduate of Cornell University • Served in the 86th Infantry, Blackhawk Division, World War II • Recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart • Chairman of the National Peanut Council, National Peanut Brokers' Association, and Virginia-Carolina Peanut Association • Former Vice-Chairman of Obici Hospital's Board of Directors • Former board member of the American Red Cross and Salvation Army • Member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars and the Jolly Boys [See also: www.findagrave.com/memorial/11377028/thomas-j-o'connor http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/ced_ndx.txt www.findagrave.com/cemetery/49746/cedar-hill-cemetery ] [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. 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