Thomas Daniel O’Connor

LaQUINTA Calif. – Thomas D. O'Connor, 79, of LaQuinta, formerly of Crystal Lake, passed away July 9, 2012, at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
He was born on Sept. 23, 1932, in Indianapolis to Daniel and Geraldine (Anders) O'Connor. On April 25, 1997, he married Kathleen Carlisle in San Diego.
Tom was raised in Lima, Ohio. He attended The Ohio State University and had fond memories of being a kicker on Woody Hayes' football team. Flying airplanes then became his passion. After serving honorably in the Navy and the Air Force, he spent the majority of his professional career as a pilot with United Airlines, retiring as a captain of the DC-10. A highlight of his career at United was being selected to fly for Richard Nixon during the 1968 presidential campaign. He was also very proud of the time he spent as the general manager of the Lake in the Hills Airport in McHenry County, being instrumental in the expansion of the airport and in establishing the Lake in the Hills Air Show.
Tom loved to read and play golf. His ever-present quick wit and unique sense of humor will be long-remembered and greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, James; and his sister, Patricia.
He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen of LaQuinta; daughters, Mary Krikorian of Crystal Lake and Maureen Regele (Stephen) of Charlotte, N.C.; sons, Thomas of Crystal Lake and Daniel of Dayton, Ohio; and grandchildren, Kelley, Megan and Katherine Regele and Joseph and Elyse Krikorian.
Private services will be held. Interment will be at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association.