Anthony O'Rourke

Anthony "Tony" O'Rourke, 68, passed away on June 20, 2023, in Fripp Island, SC. After his daily beach walk with his Golden Retriever puppy Wilson, Tony returned home to rest and died peacefully in his sleep of a heart attack. He was born on November 9, 1954, in Salzburg, Austria, to Dr. Edward O'Rourke and Marian O'Rourke. Tony is survived by his beloved wife, Suzy O'Rourke, daughter, Megan O'Rourke (Charlie Cate), daughter Shannon O'Rourke, son Jimmy O'Rourke (Madison), and granddaughter Alice Cate.

Tony was a bold, self-confident, dynamic leader with a charismatic personality, boundless energy, and a thirst for adventure and challenges. He had a nationally renowned professional reputation as a principled, proactive, strategic visionary leader. His ability to build strong organizational cultures with a shared vision and buy-in from multiple stakeholders was unparalleled. His proudest professional achievement was helping the City of Coral Springs win the coveted State of Florida's Sterling Award for Quality and becoming the first city in America to win a Malcolm Baldrige Award for Quality. His organizational and community achievements were immeasurable.

His diverse East-West cultural experiences heavily influenced Tony's perspective on life and humanity as he grew up residing in Salzburg, Austria; Naples, Italy; London, England; Bangkok, Thailand; Bethesda, Maryland; Brooklyn, New York and Kailua, Hawaii.

Tony graduated from Kailua High School in Kailua, Hawaii, where he was recognized as the Most Outstanding Student of the Year in 1972. Tony was instrumental in helping the Kailua Track and Field Team win its first Oahu Interscholastic Association Track and Field Championship in 1973 and was also a Hawaii State Track and Field Champion on the 1972 Kailua High mile relay team.

Tony attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science. The University of California, Santa Barbara recognized him with the Community Service Award in 1978. He earned a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Throughout his professional career, Tony held many public and private sector leadership positions of significant responsibility, including General Manager of Fripp Island, SC, Town Manager of the Town of Frisco, CO, City Manager of Panama City Beach, FL, City Administrator of Canon City, CO, City Manager of Yakima, WA, City Manager of South Lake Tahoe, CA, Executive Director of Beaver Creek Resort Company in Beaver Creek, CO, Assistant City Manager of Tallahassee, FL, City Manager of Coral Springs, FL, and Assistant to the City Manager of Richardson, TX.

During his free time, Tony enjoyed spending time with his family, bragging about his children's countless exploits, traveling the world, devouring every edition of Sports Illustrated and Track and Field News in order to prevail in his constant sports related debates with his twin brother and other sport obsessed friends, biking, hiking, talking smack about the Florida State Seminoles, casting aspersions on the Florida Gators, and coddling his beloved Golden Retrievers.

Tony was preceded in death by his beloved brother, Jimmy O'Rourke, father, Dr. Edward O'Rourke, mother, Marian O'Rourke, and Golden Retriever companions, Dude , Buddy, and Murphy. Left to cherish his memory are his twin brother and alter ego, Paul O'Rourke (Linda), brother Dr. Edward O'Rourke (Lisa), brother Dr. Thomas O'Rourke (Aoy), sister, Constance Gillan, and Golden Retriever, Wilson.

Suzy and his children held a beachside farewell ceremony for Tony at Fripp Island, SC on the evening of June 24, 2023. A final ceremony for family and friends to honor Tony's life will be held at the Beaver Creek Resort Company in Beaver Creek, CO, on September 9, 2023.

Rest in peace, Tony. You will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to know you. You will be forever in our hearts. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.