John R. O'Connor, of Fairfield, CT and Palm City, FL, was a successful businessman, community leader and youth hockey coach. He was the father of eight children, nineteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His large and loving family, always the center of his life, gathered around him in recent weeks as he battled cancer and were with him when he peacefully passed away on August 31, 2010, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport. Known as Jack to his family, friends and customers, he worked for more than forty years in the insurance industry.  He began his career with the Hartford Insurance Company and provided countless clients with peace of mind. As a partner for more than thirty years at Beardsley, Brown and Bassett, he helped build that firm into the premier insurance brokerage in the greater Bridgeport area. Born in Providence, RI in 1928 as the youngest of three children to Charles and Agnes O'Connor, Jack's family moved to Fairfield, CT in 1938.  Jack graduated from Roger Ludlowe High School in 1946 and enlisted in the United States Army. After serving for a year and a half in U.S.-occupied Japan, he returned home where the benefits of the GI bill allowed him to enroll as a member of the second class at Fairfield University. Jack married his high school sweetheart Barbara Walsh and, over the next 18 years, they were blessed with three sons and five daughters. They settled in the Stratfield section of Fairfield and their children all attended Our Lady of the Assumption grammar school where Jack was a member of the Men's Guild.  Jack was particularly proud that all eight went on to complete high school and college, and several, graduate school. He was deeply committed to education, especially Catholic Jesuit education, and for many years was a devoted alumnus and supporter of Fairfield University. He was a long-time member and past president of the Fairfield Rotary Club. He served for years on the campaign committee of the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County and was awarded its distinguished Norman Leeds Award for volunteerism. He helped organize the Greater Bridgeport Junior Hockey Association and was inducted into its Hall of Fame. He spent countless early morning hours at the Wonderland of Ice teaching hockey to young people. He loved his "poker club" and was a former member of the Patterson Club of Fairfield.
After thirty-six years of marriage, Jack and his family suffered the sudden death of his wife Barbara in 1988. For several years he devoted himself to his work and his tennis game.  In time it was his good fortune to be introduced to Hope Forsman of Larchmont, NY and the two married in 1997.  Shortly thereafter they relocated to the east coast of Florida where they have lived since. Until very recently, Jack would play doubles tennis six days a week and was the captain of the Monarch Country Club doubles tennis team.  Recently, he and Hope volunteered with the"4C's", where they tutored disadvantaged children. By any measure, Jack lived a long, successful and happy life. He is survived by his wife, Hope Forsman O'Connor; his eight children, David (Daria) O'Connor of Brookline, MA; Susan (Paul) Poniatowski of Haddon Heights, NJ; Jill (Rob) Mainiero of Andover, MA; Janet O'Connor Cornell of Westfield, NJ; Robert (Linda) O'Connor of Fairfield, CT; Anne (Hugh) McCrory of Fairfield, CT; Brian (Maura) O'Connor of Fairfield, CT; and Mary Kate (Jason) Gobleck of Ridgefield, CT; his nineteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren and one brother, Charles (Jean) O'Connor and several brother-in-laws and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Mitchell. The family would like to thank the devoted staff at St Vincent's Hospital for the compassionate care they provided to Jack. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10:00am meeting directly in St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in St. Michael's Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may call Friday 2-8pm in the Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jack can be made to the Fairfield County Community Foundation, "In memory of John R. O'Connor" 383 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851 or online at www.fccfoundation.org.