William James O'Connell

William James

O'Connell, 96, of Sun City West, Arizona passed away on Dec.28, 2020.

Bill was born on May 22,1924 in Ohio, son of Daniel and Wilhelmina O'Connell. He married Dorothy Lynch in Chicago, Illinois in 1950. They had three children: Daniel, Janice, and Thomas.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; son, Daniel (Isabel) and grandsons William and Antonio O'Connell; daughter, Janice (James) Marshall; and sister Mary Connolly and brother Daniel. His son, Thomas; his parents, brothers Richard, Joseph, Thomas, and sisters Dorothy Schneider and Joan O'Connell preceded him in death.

Bill earned architecture degrees from The Catholic University of America and the University of California Berkeley. At CUA he played baseball and basketball, and was awarded the Harris Trophy for "Outstanding Scholar, Gentleman, and Athlete of the Year." In 1985 he was inducted into the CUA Athletic Hall of Fame.

He served during World War Il in the Navy as a Torpedo Officer on a destroyer. As a registered architect, he practiced in Chicago and San Francisco. in 1959 he joined the architecture faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign retiring in 1993. He enjoyed sports, opera, travel, and resulting friendships.

Professor Emeritus O'Connell moved with his wife to Arizona in 1996. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish and a member of St. Vincent de Paul Society. Most important, he revered his faith and family. A funeral Mass is pending. Memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society or Hospice of the Valley. Complete obit is at www.caminodelsol.com