Robert E. O'Connor Sr.

GREAT BARRINGTON -- Robert E. O'Connor Sr., 87, of Mountain Lake, Lake Wales, Fla., formerly of Armenia, N.Y., died at home Saturday in Florida. He was the owner and chairman of the former Rising Paper Co. in Housatonic before his retirement in 1988, when he sold the company to Fox River Paper Co.

Born in New York on March 27, 1919, son of Timothy and Mary Clark O'Connor, he graduated from Queens (N.Y) College in 1941.

In October 1941, he entered the officer training program at the Coast Guard Academy and was commissioned an ensign. During World War II, he served aboard a submarine chaser in the littoral regions of the Aleutian Islands. He left active service in 1945 and was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant in 1949.

After his discharge, he attended Columbia University and obtained his bachelor of laws degree in 1948. He was admitted to the New York state bar in 1953.

He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Millbrook, N.Y., and of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Wales. He was inducted into the Roman Catholic Order of the Knights of Malta in 1987.

Mr. O'Connor also served as president of the American Paper Institute, formerly the American Paper and Pulp Association.

His wife, the former Marcella Hogan, whom he married in December 1942, died in March 2005.

He leaves four sons, Robert E. O'Connor Jr. of Rhinebeck, N.Y., Dennis O'Connor of Longmeadow, Brian O'Connor of Atlanta and Chris O'Connor of Housatonic; a daughter, Kathleen O'Connor of Lakeland, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Robert E. O'Connor, who died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, will be Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11 at St. Joseph's Church in Millbrook, N.Y. Visiting hours will be tomorrow, Nov. 17, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 at ALLEN FUNERAL HOME in Millbrook. As an alternative to flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Church, 15 North Ave., Millbrook, NY 12545, or to the Church of the Holy Spirit, 644 South 9th St., Lake Wales FL 33858. Mr. O'Connor leaves eight grandchildren, Caitlin, Rory, Margaret, Jane, Margery and Jack O'Connor, and Thomas and Sheila Tormey; and two great-grandchildren, William and Caroline Tormey. Throughout their married life, his wife, Marcella, was the active partner and inspiration for his many achievements. Their lives proved the proverb that, "In humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life." He and Marcella were heroes, models and mentors to their family and will be missed and loved forever.