Rosemary Hughes O'Connor

Rosemary Hughes O'Connor A 66-year resident of Los Alamos, passed away May 1, 2012. Born on December 11, 1919 in Boston, Massachusetts to Thomas Edward and Rose Lennon Hughes, Rosemary was the oldest of four sisters. Early in life she developed avid interests in classical music and swimming, both of which became lifelong passions. Family and friends universally described her as joyful, unsinkable, and with a zeal for life that took her on travels across the world and made everyday tasks part of a grand adventure. Rosemary began playing the violin at the age of 5 and developed her skills in the Young Musicians Concert Orchestra of Boston and the New England Conservatory of Music. Upon arriving in Los Alamos she joined a string quartet and was a founding member of the Los Alamos Sinfonietta, now known as the Los Alamos Symphony. For over 25 years Rosemary taught swimming at all levels including water safety instructor training. She earned her CPR certificate and became the first person in Los Alamos certified to teach CPR. In 1960, Rosemary went to work for PHERMEX at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. She enjoyed a 33-year career at LANL including her work in digitizing the Zapruder film. Rosemary is preceded in death by her loving husband, Leonard Francis O'Connor, and is survived by her four children: Leonard C. O'Connor and his wife, Lucia-Misa O'Connor, of Albuquerque, Thomas E. O'Connor and his wife, Carol Redman, of Santa Fe, E. Ted O'Connor of Los Alamos, Rosemary Vigil and her husband, Claudio Vigil, of Corrales, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 17, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos. A reception will follow the Mass. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Santa Fe Pro Musica, the Los Alamos Symphony Scholarship Fund and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505)984-8600 Please sign our guestbook online at www.berardinellifuneralhome.com