James C. O'Connell

How interesting this popped in my email: just yesterday I was sharing a fond story about Jim with my brother. Eighteen years since Jim's passing...and still on our minds. That is true significance. Love ya Jim.

Unfortunately, I have recently learned of Jim's passing and I cannot express my saddness at hearing the news. I toured with Jim on the ALW tour and he was just so wonderful. I could always count on Jim for support with the cast and orchestra and just for that ever calling beer.
Every half year or so,whenever Jim would be touring through Wisconsin, I could count on a phonecall, a ticket to the show, and a beer after. I always looked forward to reconnecting and hearing of the current...

Jim,

Thanks to Mark Pardy, I had the opportunity to meet you and become your friend. Mark called me last minute to join the Godspell tour. And if memory serves, the first thing you said to me (while I was busy licking my wounds after my first rehearsal) was "you grew up on Staten Island too?". From there it was smooth sailing. We traded books, music, lines of dialogue from Spinal Tap of course, and in my ultimate level of fellow Staten Islander comfort, fit you (and our...

Jim was a friend in the truest sense of the word. He always showed great concern for myself and my children, never forgetting to contact us each week, either by email or phone. Always talking to or asking about the children and showing great interest in their daily lives and activites. Thanks to Jim, there is always music in our home. I'm sure they think of him every time they practice ("play 10 min. every day.") Jim would love to listen to the kids play either over the internet or on the...

Jim,
I miss you very much. We still have a few things left that you have given us and we are keeping them in a very special place. And keeping you in a very special place in our hearts. (And I'll always have the sax, thanks to you!)

Jim,
You are missed so much. Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your friendship. You helped to make my first tour experience smooth, easy, and educational.
I'll always remember your insistence on a "Seinfeld" before the movie and your strong lobbying for "Planet of the Apes" and Staten Island Movie Nights.

I know that i'm a better person having know you. Rest in peace brother. My condolences go out to his friends and family...he will be missed....

So sorry to hear about Jim's unexpected passing. He was an amazingly bright and talented person. I had lost touch with him for years but got to see him and speak with him while he was working on the tour of GODSPELL a couple of years ago, so I'm glad we had that contact.

I knew Jim since high school, and though we went to different colleges, we lived near each other and always stayed in touch. In fact, my college's theater group often hired Jim for his piano-playing genius since the closest it had to its own piano genius was me, and I could never, ever hold a candle to this guy. I watched very closely, more in awe than jealous, and I swear Jim had absolutely phenomenal talents, seemingly from day one. I thought I was pretty good, but I'd listen to Jim for...

Well Jimmy----

We're missing you already, especially since the news of your passage has had a bit of time to register. You were truly an erudite man in an era of fast-food character and tastes---a rare commodity indeed. Your efforts to keep quality high did not go unnoticed or unappreciated: from performance issues on down to things like your defense of me requesting "Dr. Strangelove" on the bus, you stood for high standards. That, my friend, is integrity. It is for that and your...