Joseph OConnor

Joseph C. O'Connor Jr., of Arlington, MA, Cambridge, MA, and Pompano Beach, FL, passed away at home on January 28, 2025 after a brief illness. He was born on July 9, 1933 in Arlington, MA. After graduating from Arlington High School in 1951, he earned a BS in Engineering from Tufts University in 1955 before serving in the United States Army from 1956-58. He went on to work at Raytheon, GTE, Becton Dickinson and Chapman Manufacturing. After retirement, he worked tax seasons at H&R Block and served as treasurer of his condo association for 16 years.

Joe was one of the top runners in the 50+ age group in New England during the 80s and 90s, with achievements ranging from a 4:55 mile to a 3:02 Boston Marathon in 1984. He ran with the Cambridge Sports Union Master and Senior Master teams; some of his favorite races were the Doc Linsky and the Cambridge City Run in Cambridge, the East End Club race in Lowell, Khoury's Summer Steamer in Somerville, and the Plymouth to Provincetown relay.

Joe enjoyed celebrating Boston sports with friends and family, whether the teams were good (the early 1980s Celtics) or bad (the early 1970s Patriots). He appreciated humor, wit and intelligence from Tom Lehrer, George Carlin and All in the Family to MAD Magazine and Monty Python. He was steadfastly loyal to his favorite local businesses and treasured his Rock Bottom Club mug long after the Harvard Square location closed. After moving to South Florida in 2004 he embraced both the lack of snow and the fiscal responsibility afforded by the prevalence of happy hours.

Joe is survived by his wife, Nancy (Rehak) O'Connor. He is also survived by his son Glenn (Kim) O'Connor of Milford, MA, daughter Kelly O'Connor of Arlington, MA, and two grandchildren, Kerry O'Connor and Meghan Elizabeth O'Connor.