James David O'Connor

James David (Jim) O'Connor, 81, of Pensacola, FL, passed away surrounded by loved ones on June 2 in Seattle, WA after a long illness. Jim was a longtime resident of Seattle before returning to Pensacola in 2005.

Jim was born on July 25th, 1940 to Genevieve Kathryn Theresa O'Connor (n?e Trinkwell ) and Edward Daniel O'Connor in Detroit, MI. The family moved to Lillian, Alabama in 1947 and by his account Jim rode in the back window of the car for the entirety of the trip down. After graduating from Escambia High School in 1959, he studied for a short time at Pensacola Junior College before attending the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a B.S. in Mathematics with honors in 1962. During this time he also earned a commission as an officer in the United States Marine Corps but declined this commission and instead enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves in order to further his studies through a Graduate Fellowship at Auburn University where he studied Celestial Mechanics. He could often be heard exclaiming "Semper Fi!" and in his last days insisted on wearing his bright red hat with the Marine Corps insignia and words "Once a Marine, Always a Marine."

Jim's choice of study proved to be timely, as he was recruited by The Boeing Company to join their team developing the guidance subsystem of NASA's Apollo Program in Huntsville, AL. Jim developed essential computer-run mathematics for the mission, and became an Engineering Manager leading the team. One former colleague who worked with him during this time remarked, "Jim was a major contributor to defining the flight path of the Saturn V booster into orbit and out of orbit on the way to the moon. We worked long hours, often into the night, and were rewarded with the success of the mission."

Technical prowess notwithstanding, Jim's most important quality was his love of people, including those less fortunate and those left behind by society. He put this quality into practice by funding his own campaign and being elected as an independent Delegate from the State of Alabama to the historic 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where he opposed the state's majority delegation aligned with George C. Wallace.

Family meant everything to Jim. He is survived by his loving children Terry O'Connor, Paul O'Connor, and Rebecca O'Connor, siblings Lawrence (Larry) O'Connor and Edward O'Connor Jr., grandchildren James Edward Harris, Christine Sapp, David O'Connor, Noah O'Connor, Goldie O'Connor Owens, and Elle Cooper-O'Connor, and many nieces and nephews, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Maria Willoughby O'Connor, son James David (Davy) O'Connor Jr. (1974), parents, and siblings Marijo LeVan, Barbara (Babs) Pivonka, and Fr. Steven O'Connor.

Jim was passionate about many things, especially his Irish heritage. He took many trips to Ireland and was especially enamored of Galway Bay and the Dingle Peninsula and could often be spotted festooned in Irish-wear. He was also a very proud alum of Auburn University, attending many sporting events on campus and playing the fight song for the Greater Pensacola Auburn Alumni Club's football watch parties whenever the team scored. And if you attended the annual Pensacola Senior Follies from 2008 - 2021, he was the MC in his Uncle Sam costume.

In lieu of flowers, Jim asked that donations be made to Heavenly Blessings Ministries, 1614 North T St, Pensacola, FL 32505.