Rev. John T. O'Connor

O'CONNOR, Rev. John T.

Rev. John T. O'Connor, 82, of Southington, formerly of Newington, died on Monday, (Dec. 1, 2003) at the Hospital of St. Raphael, New Haven. Born in New York City, NY, on Sept. 18, 1921, son of the late Edward J. O'Connor and Winifred (Neary) O'Connor, he was raised in Norfolk, and graduated from the Gilbert School. He graduated from St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield and St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, NY. Fr. O'Connor was ordained a priest on June 29, 1946, at St. Joseph's Cathedral by The Most Reverend Henry J. O'Brien. He served at St. Thomas Church, Southington, St. Francis Church, Torrington, and St. Mary's Church, Newington. He was Pastor of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Newington, from 1969 until his retirement in 1997, and has since been in residence at St. Dominic's Church, Southington. Fr. O'Connor served as the Chaplain for the Newington Volunteer Fire Dept. for 32 years. He also served as the Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 3884, for many years, and was a member of the Newington Interfaith Clergy Association. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Wethersfield Country Club. When in the seminary, he served for two summers as the caddy master at the Norfolk Country Club. He was an active bowler in Newington, and in his younger days was an avid skier. His survivors include three sisters, Katherine Henebry of Waterbury, Margaret Zecher of Westfield, MA, and Mary Dowd of Longmeadow, MA; four brothers, Thomas O'Connor and Dr. Jeremiah O' Connor, both of Norwalk, and Patrick O'Connor and Kevin O'Connor, both of Norfolk; many nieces and nephews and their families. He was pre-deceased by four brothers, Edward, Timothy, James and Francis O'Connor. He will lie in state on Thursday from 3-7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 183 Church St., Newington, followed by a Parish Mass at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, at 11:30 a.m., at the Church of the Holy Spirit, celebrated by Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Norfolk. Memorial donations may be made to the Church of the Holy Spirit, 183 Church St., Newington, CT 06111 or to St. Dominic's Church, 1050 Flanders Rd., Southington, CT 06489. A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Dominic's Church. Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, is serving the family. To share a memory with the family please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com.