O'CONNOR, Thomas University Historian and Professor of History, Emeritus at Boston College passed away peacefully at his home in Milton on May 20, 2012 at the age of 89. He was a native of South Boston and a graduate of Boston Latin School, Boston College A.B. and M.A., and Boston University Ph.D. He was a past member of the board of directors of the Bostonian Society, a resident fellow at the Massachusetts Historical Society, a member of the Massachusetts Archives Commission, and a member of the President's Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States. In 1999 he received the Gold Medal of the Eire Society of Boston. Dr. O'Connor was the author of books and scholarly articles on United States history and the Civil War. Widely considered the unofficial Dean of Boston historians, Dr. O'Connor wrote numerous books on the history of Boston. Dr. O'Connor served his country as a member of the United States Army during World War II. He was stationed in India. A devoted family man, Dr. O'Connor is survived by his wife of 63 years Mary. Dr. O'Connor was the father of Steven, Jeanne O'Connor-Green of Milton, and Michael of Newburyport and two grandsons, Matthew and Brian. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Wednesday 4-8 PM in the McDonald Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hosp.) Relatives and friends will gather in the funeral home at 9 AM on Thursday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Thomas More Church, Braintree at 10 AM. Burial in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Weymouth. Donations in memory of Dr. O'Connor may be made to the James A. Woods, S.J., College of Advancing Studies, Boston College, McGuinn Hall, Room 100, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. See www.McDonald-Fu neralHomes.com for directions and online condolences.
Published in The Boston Globe on May 22, 2012
