Kenneth O'Connor

The Life and Times of Kenneth James O'ConnorOn January 17 the Dunedin Leprechaun lost his courageous battle with cancer at the VA Health Care Centre in Tampa, Florida. With his wife of 48 years and his three children by his side, Ken left surrounded by love and laughter, both traits that embodied his life.Kenneth James was born in New York city to Sally and James O'Connor in 1943.One generation removed from the Emerald Isle, his red hair, love of a good joke and ability to maintain his fair skin no matter how much sun he received, reminded all of his heritage. Raised in the Bronx, his childhood was filled with equal amounts of rigorous Catholic education and boyhood adventures. Ken's technical prowess was discovered early and developed in high school where he graduated with high marks in Electrical Certification. With his quest for adventure, Ken entered the United States Air Force in 1961. Initially stationed at Lowry AFB in Colorado, he finished his tour of duty at Grand Forks AFB, ND. With the exception of basic training, Kenny Boy had fond memories of his four years serving his country as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist and his tales of adventures and misadventure would provide a lifetime of entertainment for his family and friends. While stationed at Grand Forks AFB the Boy From The Bronx met the young Canadian woman who would become his soul mate for the next 48 years. Elaine and Ken were married in 1964 and after receiving an Honorable Discharge and another gift, a red headed daughter named Maureen, he moved his new family to Winnipeg to begin what would become the eastern migration of the Clan O'Connor.In Winnipeg, Ken worked for Pioneer Electric and his family grew again when his son Michael was born in 1965. Finding Winnipeg not quite cold or metropolitan enough, he moved the family eastward to Atikokan where he worked at Steep Rock Iron mines. Ken's talent as a prankster would continue to develop at the mines as his coworkers were always on guard against his ability to introduce electrical current into seemingly innocent objects. While Ken could take a joke as well as he delivered it, they learned to accept their fate as retaliation only led to a more elaborate, and often more painful prank. It was in Atikokan that the family grew to its final size as yet another redhead, Cathy, was born in 1970. Living in a closely knit small town, this was a formative time for Ken and his family as they would develop life long friendships with other young families. Maureen, Mike and Cathy would experience a small town at it's peak exploring the wilderness and, along with Ken and Elaine, filling the days with curling, baseball, fishing, hunting and of course hockey. Groceries were retrieved on a snowmobile, often with a smiling 10 year old driving down Main Street. With the closing of the mines, Ken again moved the family east to Thunder Bay where they would reside until moving to Florida in 1990. Now with his Masters Electrician certification, Ken worked for Ontario Hydro as a Linesman and Great Lakes Paper as an electrician. No longer a stranger to Canadian winters, Ken and the family became avid skiers at Mt.McKay where he moonlighted providing electrical maintenance and upgrading the resort's lighting and snowmaking. Ken had an adventurous spirit which became evident as he convinced Elaine into a North American motorcycle tour on a motorbike with a small stop for white water rafting in Golden, B.C.. His family was enthusiastically involved in his quest for the fastest, highest, most white knuckling ride he could find. Later, in his fifties, when his fellow workers were relaxing on weekends, he would bungy jump and sky dive. With his intelligence and skills, Ken had the incredible ability to undertake any task, no matter how difficult and complex. If he didn't have the knowledge, his inexhaustible research would soon provide him with more than enough information to complete the task and become an amateur expert on the subject. His perfectionism and craftsmanship were evident in his profession and his construction projects. With his Moving to Florida in 1990 his technical prowess with computers and all things mechanical and electrical were acknowledged at Lucent Technologies and he was soon promoted to management, a position he held until retirement. In Orlando his first of seven grandchildren was born and so began the last position in his life, from son to father to grandfather. Nowhere was Ken's generous spirit and love more apparent than with his grandchildren. To all of the grandchildren he was a god - a small one by stature mind you, but in the eyes of the grandchildren, and his family, he was a giant of a man. He was the Omniscient Leprechaun. The Lord of Computers. The Master of Encyclopedic Knowledge. The Lender of Emergency Funds. The Scenter of All Things Foul. Ken and Elaine's life were filled with the events and achievements of their children and grandchildren. From one generation to the next, the dance recitals, plays, hockey games, football games, soccer games, exhibits, were attended with enthusiasm and perhaps a word or two about the weather and lack of Pepsi products. With a camp on Lake Superior and a home now in Dunedin, Florida, Ken and Elaine became snowbirds wintering in Florida, Ken attaining Pro status in shuffleboard and Elaine logging the miles on her bicycle. In Dunedin, Ken and Elaine's circle of friends swelled to include all the new friends from the area along with the old friends from Winnipeg, Atikokan and Thunder Bay that they convinced to winter with them. Once Ken's charm and wit was running at full steam, most found it simpler to agree with his reasoning.Ken was measured by the size of his heart, not the size of his body. He lived larger than most, and could fill a room with his presence. For his family and friends he was a great provider, caretaker, advisor, counselor and role model. Compassionate and caring. Strong, intelligent and wise. Ken leaves behind a legacy of children and grandchildren that will forever strive to be the incredible person that Ken was.Ken is survived by Elaine, his wife of 48 years, his daughter Maureen Rabb, son Michael O'Connor (Janet) and daughter Cathy Jones (Tim), grandchildren Kevin and Connor Rabb, Liam and Sean O'Connor and Mackenzie, Matthew and Jessica Jones. He is also survived by his siblings Eileen Forrestal, Joanne (Eugene)Conglin, John Forrestal and Michael Forrestal of Newburgh, New York. He was predeceased by his father James O'Connor and Sally Forrestal. A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, January 21 in Dunedin, Florida where memories of Ken's life were shared amongst friends. A heartfelt thanks to all the friends and family who travelled a great distance to offer tributes, support and much needed laughter over the last week. In Ken's memory donations can be mailed to the KOA Care Camp in care of KOA 182 Lakeshore Drive, Shuniah, ON. P7A 0P4."