Joseph M. O'Connor M.D.

Joseph M. O'Connor, M.D.

AGE: 87 • Ft. Myers, Fla.

Dr. Joseph M. O'Connor, a loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away Monday, April 4, 2011, in his home in Ft. Myers, Fla. He was born Jan. 13, 1924 and raised in Jackson Heights, N.Y. to William and Helen O'Connor, and was the oldest of four siblings. Dr. O'Connor graduated from Manhattan College in NY and New York Medical College, in 1953. His medical internship was at the Monmouth Medical Center in NJ and his Pediatric Residency at Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio. He was a member of The American Academy of Pediatrics, served as the Chief of Pediatrics for the U.S. Air Force Hospital in Tripoli, Libya, and was a medical consultant to Greece, Turkey and Ethiopia. In 1960, he opened the practice of Pediatric Affiliates in Toms River. He was an Attending Pediatrician, a past chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and a past member of the Board of Trustees of the Community Memorial Hospital in Toms River. He also was a past president and Board Member of the Ocean County Medical Society and was on the original Board of Trustees for the Toms River Y.M.C.A.

He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Doris O'Connor; his son, Joe O'Connor Jr. and partner, Marty Musselwhite; his daughters, Dody (Randy) Dent, Patricia (Conrad) Quagliaroli, and Nancy (Manwai) Wong: grandchildren, Lindsey Adam, Blakeley Dent, Conrad and Ashley Quagliaroli; and brother, William O'Connor. He loved tennis, skiing, sailing, golf, reading, traveling and long walks on the boardwalk and beach. He loved Toms River and his many friends and patients. After retirement, he moved to Ft. Myers, Fla., where the winters are warmer.

A memorial service will be held to honor Joe O'Connor at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 31 at Christ Episcopal Church, 415 Washington St., Toms River. Memorial contributions may be made to Pediatric Dept. of The CMC Foundation, 99 Route 37 W, Toms River, NJ 08753. Friends may sign the guest book at www.horizonfunerals.com.