Patrick J. O'Connell

Patrick J. O'Connell

Patrick J. O'Connell died peacefully in Naples, FL on Saturday, May 10, 2014. Born in Roberts, WI, Pat graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD in 1953 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. In 1958 he graduated from the Army Advanced Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, VA. In 1967 he received a Master's degree in Management Data Processing from the U.S. Navel Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA.

As a Marine Engineer officer, he served at several bases including Quantico, Camp Pendelton, 3rd Division Okinawa, San Diego, CA, Camp Lejeune, NC, Hdqts Marine Corp and Philadelphia, PA. He served in combat with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam.

Upon retiring from the Marine Corp with the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1973, Pat began a management career in Data Processing with ICI Americas (now AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals) in Wilmington, DE. He moved to Naples in 2003.

Pat is survived by Marian (Mickey) O'Connell, his devoted wife of 60 years, and their three children Kimberly A. DiGiacamo (her husband, Robert), Amy E. Wasko (her husband, Jeffrey), Jean M. Allen (her husband, Jesse), nine grandchildren, one great grandson, and his sisters Jean Kapka and Margaret Ann McGregor (her husband, Mac). He was preceded in death by his brother James, and his parents, George and Mabel O'Connell.

Friends may call between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 15 at the McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Pat's life will be held at 11 a.m. at Saint Mary Magdalen Church, 7 Sharpley Rd., Wilmington, DE 19803, followed by interment in St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery.

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