Michael John O’Connell

My memories of Mike were so astonishing. You would never miss his entrance, tall, handsome, dressed for the beach, and had the biggest smile on his face.

Many fond memories go back to my high school days when the O'Connell's lived off Dale Drive, well that was the house to be at, our stomping grounds!! Our weekends were spent at their beach house in Cobb Island. Those days were filled with lots of friends, boating, skiing, and sunbathing. When the sun started to go down, a feast of food arrived, dozens of crabs, and beer flowed and flowed. Those days with the O'Connell's were filled with family fun and laughter till the wee hours of the morning.

Those times were some of the best in my life!

Mike you will be truly missed and loved forever.

Love, Mary Fran

The Mikeisms will stay with me forever. "What´s your name, what do they call you!" Playing with a cork! Playing with a spoon! Playing with a napkin! All special moments that will never be forgotten.

To all that knew him,
Any moment, any time spent with Michael O´Connell was SPECIAL!
I believe God put Michael in our lives for a reason. It was a gift to us. We could all listen, learn, laugh, and enjoy every moment in his company. To know Michael was to love Michael. He is not gone from our lives, he NEVER will be! He´s but a thought away, and almost guaranteed...that thought will bring a smile.
God bless you Wendy and family...always.

Peter Grant

When I got home from Vietnam I went home first, St. Michael's for Mass second, and then straight to the O'Connell's. I couldn't wait to see Mike and family (plus I had a crush on Patricia). It was my first meal back in the USA. Growing up I had a lot of meals and sleep overs at his house. I was happy to see Paul's mention of Tommy Kane and the run through Sallie's (house) yard. Pick up football games at the Academy field, basketball in the gym. Nolte field for practices and of course Turkey Thicket for games. Mr O'Connell gave me my first Rolling Rock! We used to go Trick-or-Treating together. One year Mike, John Young, and I were going home after filling our bags and we noticed a grouping of pumpkins - so we just had to go "bowling". Well, Mike's pumpkin rolled the furthest! Pretty sure he cheated. I hadn't seen Mike for years and when I had a small, mini-reunion of guys from St. Mike's. Of course we had it at the Corner Pub! Mike showed up, sat down, and bought a round. We laughed for awhile and then Mike had to go. As he walked towards the door, he turned back, waved and left us with what all remember of our friend. The Smile!!

My first memory of Mike is watching him and Tommy Kane run from Sallie's yard up Pershing Drive toward Holy Names Academy after we all had done something wrong. Laughing out loud, sprinting. He was always in a good mood, whether on Mayfair Place, in Vegas, on Cobb Island, buying the Corner Pub, or fighting cancer. Just one of the pleasures of my life to have known him, and all the O'Connells. Miss you brother.

Dear Wendy and family, Jim and I were so sorry to hear of your loss. Mike truly lit up a room with lots of fun and laughter! We are truly blessed to have enjoyed many beautiful and fun times together. Mike leaves a mark on my heart! God's peace Mary & Jim Robinson

Dear Wendy and family, Jim and I are so sorry for your loss. Mike truly lit up a room and always had everyone laughing! We feel so blessed to have share with both of you some beautiful times and lots of laughs. He leaves a mark on my heart for sure!! Love and peace, Mary and Jim Robinso

So sorry for your loss--I am sure you have wonderful memories--Karen VW

Really sorry to hear about Mike's passing. Though I haven't seen Mike in decades, I have lots of memories from St. Mike's, traveling to football games in the family station wagon with Mrs. O'connell driving us to Turkey Thicket. Many times she would either offer or give in to requests to stop at the Ice Cream Parlor on the way home at the Univ. of Md. I remember playing at the O'Connell house and of course the Slot Machines in the basement were always a real treat. I'll never forget one time playing golf with Mike, you had to be there to feel the impact, but we were on the 9th hole, (the one where someone threw a club and the tree grew around it), Mike was standing and leaning against a tree when I hit a fast line drive right at his head(of course this wasn't intended), Mike's response was so immediate and so FORCEFUL that the he jumped behind the tree and closed his eye so hard to prepare for impact that his eye started crying! We then got a really good laugh out of this because it was just so darn close. Of course my golf game hasn't improved much since those days. I really only know Danny and Tricia but my thoughts are with all of the family. Over the years I would see Mike and he always had that patented smile on. Enjoyed that Big Mansion Mike, your friend, Gerry Sharpe

During our days at St Michael's...basketball practice one night in January...one of the guys stole a beer from his dad...Mike (in 7th grade) and I and two other guys sat in the parking lot of the girl's gym at Blair HS and passed around a 12 ounce can of Blatz beer...the temperature outside was 12 degrees...proving we were manly men...

Note to Mike's grandchildren, nieces and nephews: Mike would discourage this kind of behavior - it was against the law...

Love you Mike

Going to dinner at his house in my early 20´s and he put rabbit pellets out for an appetizer !

I relished the opportunity to spend the first week in August every year with Mike in the sand hills of NC. God speed amigo.

When we were at St. Michaels, the nuns used to confuse our mothers. My mom heard a lot about "her" son Michael who was in my class, before she could get a word in and correct the nun. Mike was also chosen to portray the priest in our preparation for First Communion. Maybe the nuns thought that would make him into a saint...Mike was always the fun, kind, generous, ready with a quip guy I knew since first grade. You will be missed, Mike! Love, Bubba O´Connell