George Allen O'Connor

1944 - 2019

George Allan O'Connor

Born: March 5, 1944; in Brooklyn, NY

Died: June 9, 2019; in Dekalb, IL

George Allan "Al" O'Connor, 75, of DeKalb, IL, passed away on June 9, 2019, at the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center. Al was born in Brooklyn, NY, on March 5, 1944, to George and Ruth (Nielsen) O'Connor. He lived in Brooklyn, Levittown, and Central Islip, NY, during his early years. He married Judith Ellen "Judy" Brown on June 17, 1967, in Babylon, NY.

Al earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music and a Performer's Certificate from SUNY Fredonia in 1965 and a Master's Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Illinois in 1967. He took his first position at Northern Illinois University as percussion professor in the School of Music in 1968. He would later become the Assistant Chair of the School of Music and the Associate Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts before retiring in 2003.

During his time at NIU, Al founded the world class Steelband program in 1973 which was the first of its kind at an American university. The ensemble performed all over the U.S., plus Trinidad and Tobago, South Korea, and Taiwan. In 2000, under Al's direction, the NIU Steelband took second place at the World Steelband Festival in Trinidad. He was also responsible for NIU becoming the first American university to offer degree programs in Steelpan.

In the summer of 1982 Al augmented his career when he started a Steelband program at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, WI, which he directed every summer thereafter until 2012.

In addition to receiving several awards during his career, Al was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Percussive Arts Society in 2014.

Al is survived by his wife Judy; daughter, Kristin Taylor (Dave Elliott) of DeKalb; sons, Sean (Christina) O'Connor of Little River, SC, and Ethan (Amanda) O'Connor of Murfreesboro, TN; grandchildren, Drew Taylor (fianc Jackie Irving), Hillary (Ethan) Rutten, Evan and Cameron Taylor; Lindsey, Nathan, and Caitlin O'Connor; Cole, Kelly, and Kristofer O'Connor; brother, Robert (Catherine) O'Connor of East Lyme, CT; nephews, David (Karyn Lyman) O'Connor of Philadelphia, PA, and Kevin (Fredilyn Lipata) O'Connor of Newport News, VA; grandnephew and niece, Zachary and Madelyn O'Connor; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Linda and Dave Nickerson and their sons, Adam, Ryan, and Tim.

Al was predeceased by his father, George, on May 22, 1996; his mother, Ruth, on January 7, 2019; his parents-in-law, Richard and Dorothy Brown; and several aunts and uncles.

The family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, DeKalb Rehab and Nursing Center, and Journey Care Hospice for their outstanding care of Al.

There will be a memorial visitation on Friday, August 2nd, at First Lutheran Church in DeKalb from 4-6pm, and a musical celebration of Al's life on Saturday, August 3rd, in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, NIU School of Music, at 3:00pm with Rev. Dr. Janet Hunt of First Lutheran Church officiating. Interment of cremated remains will be at a later date at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the G. Allan O'Connor Memorial Fund, for the NIU Steelband addressed to the O'Connor Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.