Daniel O'Connell

1949 - 2021

Mr. Daniel "Dan" O'Connell, 71, of Pittsfield, passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2021. Born in Springfield, MA, on August 24, 1949, the son of Daniel and A. Mildred Moylan O'Connell, he graduated from St. Joseph High School and later earned his master's degree in painting from the University of Iowa.

Dan was a vibrant artistic force in Pittsfield, creating public works of art and helping elevate our community into "Brooklyn of the Berkshires." The murals you see around our city are a tribute to his love and appreciation of his lifelong home. His service to our community extended beyond aesthetics, as he developed artistic programs for seniors; served as a leader on, among others, the Pittsfield Mayor's First Night Commission, the Massachusetts Governor's Task Force on Community Education, the Public Cable Television Commission, the Boys' and Girls' Club of Pittsfield, and Artscape; and founded the Black Cultural Center in 1992. His joyful advocacy brought music, theater, visual art, and creative accessibility to everyone he could reach, and he was committed to reaching everyone he could.

Generous of his gifts, time, and humor, Dan was active with Meals on Wheels and an informal entertainer to all those around him. Uncle Danny, or UD, was beloved by all of his nieces and nephews, and he loved them even more in return, through his quiet, good-humored, and constant support.

Daniel is survived by his two sisters, Mary Gregory (Fort Pierce, FL) and Ann Kavanagh (Staatsburg, NY), as well as his devoted and beloved Afghan, Moylan (a Very Good Girl). He will be missed by his nephew, nieces, grand nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends.

Dan was quoted in a 2017 iBerkshires.com article: "Art is about trust. It's about the ambiance you create in the space. It's a safe haven, whether you're throwing a pot, or working in the darkroom at night, playing the piano or painting in a studio." His family and community are grateful for all the safe space and beauty he brought to our lives.

Funeral Notice:

Funeral services for Mr. Daniel "Dan" M. O'Connell will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to "mural restoration of his work" in care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Please visit www.dwyerfuneral.com to leave condolences and remembrances.