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Richard J. "RIck" O'Connor
Richard J. "RIck" O'Connor
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Richard O'Connor Obituary
There's a patch of land in upstate New York called Kendrew Corners, where Rick O'Connor's forebears scratched out a living as dirt farmers. In scarcely two generations, one of their ambitious descendants had climbed to the 100th floor of the World Trade Center as a senior vice president for risk management at Marsh & McLennan. To Rick O'Connor, that meant a lot, his brother Bill recalled.
Raised in rural Watertown, N.Y., Mr. O'Connor had an itch for adventure. In college, he drove a white '56 MG and went hang gliding on weekends. When his engineering-related jobs took him around the country, he explored new terrain hungrily. (He became a connoisseur of Texas barbecue.)
His restless, demanding mind was always cooking up schemes. As a teenager, he began swapping Boy Scout patches, an activity that became a business and a newsletter. Years later, he scoured flea markets for vintage postcards and sold them over the Internet. Enamored of the chocolate cake his wife, Lynne, made, he envisioned a cake business.
Despite his love of sassy cities, Mr. O'Connor, 49, settled in the small town of LaGrangeville, N.Y., believing it was a sweet, safe place to raise Matthew, Erin and Lauren. He commuted two hours each way between his touchstones: his children and his tower.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
JoAnne Weatherup Renee
September 21, 2020
He was the kindest man I have never known. Our grandparents were brothers: Dorr (and Shirley) Weatherup and Oakland J. and (Anne Seymour) Weatherup. I have pictures of all of them.
James Lewsley
September 11, 2019
I visited New York in March past and paid a visit to the 9/11 memorial during my trip. I was very touched that each day a white rose would be placed on the names of people who's birthday occurred that day. I looked for a white rose and Richard O'Connors was the first one I saw (it was 26th March). I took a photo and a when I got back to Ireland I was looking through my photos and noticed the ray of sunlight shining down on Richard's name. I thought i would share it here, in the hope that it might give his people comfort amongst the sadness.
S J. Friscia III
September 14, 2015
In memory
With Honor & Respect.
September 12, 2015
We never knew of each other and never chanced to meet. Our grandfathers -Dorr and Oakland Weatherup were brothers. We were second cousins. My sincere condolences to your family. JoAnne Weatherup Renee
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Lee Van Brocklin
September 11, 2011
Today you and your family are in my thoughts. God bless you all.
Bob Ridall
September 11, 2011
May God bless you and your family. We will always miss you.
Sue and Tim Himes
August 30, 2011
My husband and I rode from Colorado on our motorcycle to ride in the 911 memorial ride Aug 18-20, 2011. We were honored to ride in Richard's memory. We will never forget. God Bless
Ed Nelson
September 11, 2007
Rick O’Connor was my friend. His son Matt and my son Ian played soccer for the LaGrange Patriots when our boys were just beginning to reach for their adolescence. At practices and games we fathers milled around waiting, while our boys played. We developed that informal relationship you get from seeing someone often without really trying. Bumping in to them and trading stories, you get to know them bit-by-bit and friendship grows. Rick worked for an environmental clean-up company in Pennsylvania and commuted back and forth each week to LaGrange, NY when we knew him. Thin and blond, he was “jock-ey”, but not the football type. Lacrosse was his thing in high school, but he loved to see our boys play soccer.
“Did you see that? Did you see that?!” he would say, after some near-goal that our Patriots had failed to put away. Or, he would laugh when our 11-year-old soccer stars clumsily managed to clear a shot on our goal and say,
“Oh, we were so lucky!”
“Ian did a great job out there today in spite of that idiot we have for a coach!” he would remark, as we walked to our cars through the chill dusk of an upstate NY Fall.
Rick and his wife Lynn had moved back to the Northeast, to our little town in upstate New York from Sugarland, Texas in the late 90’s. When they heard we might move to Houston, they alternately tried to scare us with big-bug stories and encourage us with the new culinary opportunities of city life. Rick and Lynn had two daughters, Erin and Lauren, who played girlie-fantasy games along the sidelines of the field with my daughter Corrie during soccer practices and games. Like all of us, their weekends were made of hastily laid kid-plans.
“I’ll take Erin to the ball game, and you meet us back here at 1 and …” they would say, trying to stretch their two lives around three kids.
When we visited New York in October 2001, Ian heard the news first. Rick had a meeting at the World Trade Center early on the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001 and was killed in the attack. At the first anniversary, we heard that friends saw Lynn and redheaded Matt on a televised memorial. Rick’s name appeared in alphabetical order on the TV screen along with all the others who suffered and died for reasons that still make no sense.
The dusty and destructive images that fill our minds when we remember September 11th brought us first to welling tears, and then to righteous anger, and then to a resolution to never-forget. But we do, and we will, and our lives go on day-by-day and year-upon-year. And fortunately, mercifully, those emotive images have faded. But, like gold-refined, the good things stay, and Rick remains a part of my recollections of those youth soccer years in our little town, among the tall trees and green mountains of a crisp, Fall day in LaGrange.
P Tabbernor
January 18, 2007
In remembrance....
Kristine
November 22, 2006
As I cross-stitched your name on the memorial that I am doing for all of the victims, I prayed for you and your family. Please know that your death was not in vain. We will always remember. God Bless.
geoffrey o'donnell
January 7, 2003
To Lynne, Kids & Family,
On behalf of the Houston Lacrosse Club, we are saddened by this news. Rickie was the consummate team player & family man. His spirit, drive & leadership made all of us better players and enriched our lives.
We salute our Team-Mate as the finest of all men and shall always love & remember our fallen comrade.
Caryn Wiley
June 17, 2002
To the O'Connor family,
We met at the June 2 Ceremony at Ground Zero. It was amazing that we were brought together - being that Rick worked in the same department on the same floor as my dad. I believe they led us to meet. I am sure they were friends and shared many laughs as well as projects. I was even more amazed at their connection when I read that Rick went to Clarkson. See, my dad graduated from Clarkson in the 70's also! I just wanted to let you and your children know that I think of and pray for you all often.
Rick and my dad are the angels that watch over us each day. They help get us through those days that just don't seem to ever end. Please know that Rick is safely in God's embrace and he's always with you.
In peace and love,
Caryn Rasweiler-Wiley
Angie Campbell
May 7, 2002
May God Bless you and keep you always.
March 17, 2002
DEAR GOD SHINE YOUR LIGHT ON THIS BEAUTIFUL MAN...RICHARD J. (RICK)OCONNOR AND MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE WITH GOD AND HIS ANGELS..GOD BLESS HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN..FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS..STAY CLOSE AND NEVER FORGET 9/11/01..GOD BLESS AMERICA AND NEW YORK..MAY JESUS AND ST.PATRICK GREET YOU AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN..AMEN
Steve Vekasy
February 6, 2002
I hadn't heard from Rick since playing lacrosse with him at Clarkson University in the early 70s. Even still, it is painfully numbing to see an old friend this way. May God bless his family with love, peace and many happy memories.
Teresa Jahn
December 17, 2001
America Cries
We see your sorrow-
and our hearts cry....
We can not erase your pain
but you do not have to face the anguish alone-for we-
-the American people-
are beside you.
We so desperately want to have the touch that brings you comfort,
the strength that gives you courage,
and the words to lighten your spirits.
And when we are left speechless
may the silence of our nation weave love into your hearts
to ease your sorrow.
May you find healing through our nation's strength as we-
-the American people-
face this difficult time together. Our hearts are with you. Teresa Jahn
Dixon, IL
Ruth McWilliams
December 15, 2001
During this holiday season, may Rick's circle of family and friends find a world of love and peace.
Nick Schapman
October 23, 2001
May Jesus receive Rick's soul and all those that lost their lives that day. May Jesus also comfort his family and give you the strength to live your lives to the fullest. Rick was a very insightful person and I enjoyed working with on his Stakeholder Value program while he was at Malcolm Pirnie. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to have worked with him.
May God bless you!
Nola Samaniego
October 23, 2001
My prayers are with Rick's wife and three children during this time of trial. God Bless them and all the others who have lost a loved one in this tragedy.
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