Name: Service for Gerald "Rory" O'Connor
Start: 2023-12-06T14:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-12-06T16:00:00.000Z
Location: Dwyer -Wellington Family Funeral Home - Pittsfield

Gerald Barnard O'Connor, 94, died Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at Hillcrest Commons after months of declining health.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Claire (Warner) O'Connor; his sons Douglas (Nancy Fisher), Robert (Magalie Danier) and Rory; his daughter Sharon O'Connor (Tom Honigford); his grandchildren Robert, Christian (Sarah), Emma, and Cora. He is predeceased by his sister Elizabeth (Patrick) McGurk and his grandson Jean-Paul.

Gerald (nicknamed Rory) was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 24, 1928 and was the son of G. Waldron O'Connor and Elizabeth Carroll O'Connor.

His formal education began at St. Albans School in Washington, DC. He graduated in 1946 from Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He then went on to receive a B.A. in 1950 from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where he was co-captain of the lacrosse team and a member of St. Anthony Hall fraternity.

After school, he managed his family dairy farm in Sheffield for a few years then changed careers, first in public relations for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft then as a reporter for, successively, The Manchester Herald, The Hartford Courant and The Hartford Times, all of Connecticut. He moved back to Massachusetts to become a reporter for the Berkshire Eagle of Pittsfield in 1963 and covered various subjects including sports, agriculture, City Hall, and education; he was also a contributor to the "Our Berkshires" column. He retired from the Eagle in 1994.

Rory was a man of many talents and interests, including beekeeping, birdwatching, drawing, gardening, history, music, carpentry, and traveling. He had a great intellect and curiosity, was well-read and fascinated with words and books and current events. He was a skilled raconteur and always gracious when he beat the pants off you in Scrabble. Having a life-long interest in scholastic sports, he became a referee for secondary school lacrosse and soccer across western Massachusetts. He was a member of the Thursday Evening Club, the Berkshire Concert Choir, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society. He was also a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church of Pittsfield where he was a choir member.

Funeral Notice:

Visiting hours for Rory will be Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 2pm to 4pm at the Dwyer-Wellington Funeral Home in Pittsfield, 220 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

The funeral will be held at St Stephen's Church on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Stephen's Table or the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Please visit www.dwyerfuneral.com to leave condolences and remembrances.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Nov. 25, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Gerald O'Connor

Sponsored by The Berkshire Eagle.

5 Entries

Rene Laubach

November 30, 2023

I was very saddened to learn of Rory's passing. My sincere condolences to Claire and his entire family.

Rory was kind and compassionate and an avid nature lover and supporter of Mass Audubon's Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries. He and Claire took part in a number of Mass Audubon birding tours that I had the pleasure of co-leading.

Rory had a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor. And he was a great storyteller. I especially enjoyed his tales of working in journalism and life on the farm.

Rory was definitely fun to be around. I consider myself fortunate to have known him. I will miss him as I know many others will.

Rene Laubach
former sanctuary director
Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries
Massachusetts Audubon Society

Erik Bruun

November 29, 2023

In a newsroom filled with kind people, Rory was the kindest.

I joined The Berkshire Eagle as a reporter in the mid-1980s, covering his hometown of Sheffield. Plus, I was a fellow alumni from Trinity College. He always made me feel as though he was delighted to see me. He acted as though I was a role model to him, which was the exact opposite way I felt about him. He was a model of patience, kindness and understanding--a lovely, wonderful man. I feel lucky to have known him.

Craig Reynolds

November 28, 2023

Dear Mrs. O, Doug, Bob, Rory, and Sharon,

My deepest sympathies. I always viewed Mr. O as the quintessential New England pragmatic intellectual - so at ease with complex ideas and issues, but always in the service of the greater good. Skilled raconteur indeed! He will be greatly missed at St. Stephen's and by the larger Berkshire community.

Paula & Michael Paul Esposito

November 26, 2023

CLAIRE & FAMILY,
I was so sad to read of Rory's passing.
I have find memories of our BCC concert tours in Europe. He was very good at explaining of the area
to my son & myself.
You are in our thoughts & prayers.

David Prendergast

November 26, 2023

Dear Mrs. O'Conner and family;

On behalf of the Prendergast family, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The time we had together on Pine Grove Dr. was priceless.

David Prendergast

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results