He left us suddenly but will remain a constant with us always. His spirit will forever live on with those fortunate enough to have known and loved such an extraordinary man.
John was born on June 20, 1950, in Tulare, California and passed on September 6, 2021 at the age of 71.
He was preceded in death by his parents; John Patrick O’Connor, Jr. and Beatrice Mae O’Connor (Bettencourt).
John is survived by his loving wife, Patricia (Trish) O’Connor; his children, Douglas O’Connor, Michelle O’Connor, and Jeremy O’Connor; his stepchildren, Matthew Livingston and Whitney Livingston; his two grandchildren, Quinn O’Connor and Alden O’Connor; his five siblings, Linda Hood, Kathy Dean, Mark O’Connor, Ronnie O’Connor, and Mike O’Connor; and his loving and loyal dog, Bella. His nieces and nephews will always remember him fondly as the ‘fun uncle.’
He enjoyed a lively childhood full of shenanigans and hilarious stories shared for decades while attending St. Aloysius Catholic School in Tulare, California. Let’s just say that John’s free spiritedness drove many priests and nuns crazy in his boyhood years. The O’Connor family moved to Alabama in 1963 where John attended Montgomery Catholic High School before graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in 1968.
John was a Master Plumber by trade but could fix any and everything. He enjoyed nothing more than helping those with a problem and was often known to drop what he was doing to assist a friend, elderly client, or someone in need. He loved horticulture and couldn’t have been prouder to receive the designation of yard of the month in June 2018. His passion for Alabama football was indisputable, especially considering the outrageous 10 ft x 10 ft flag he put on his roof every football season, much to the entertainment of passersby’s who often pulled over just to take a picture.
John was larger than life and left an undeniable imprint on everyone he met. To put it simply, he is unforgettable. His humor, often risqué jokes, and broad intelligence will forever remain cherished by his family and friends.
He was a voice of reason and sounding board for those closest to him, especially his children. John was an incredible listener who provided the advice and support needed to help the people he loved through difficult decisions or just a crappy day. His voicemails were epic, and he never got off a call with a loved one without saying, ‘I love you.’ Which makes it even more poignant that those were his last words.
A celebration of life ceremony was held at the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. It included the things John cherished most; the outdoors, beautiful gardens, Alabama football nuances, and people who loved him, telling stories about a man who will forever be ingrained in our hearts and minds.
In his memory, John would want people to laugh, be kind, vote in favor of a lottery, enjoy an ice cold Modelo, and for Alabama football to win national championships for the next decade while eventually cloning Nick Saban. RTR to a beautiful human who will never be forgotten.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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