Robert "Bob" E. O'Connor Jr.

Robert (Bob) E. O'Connor, Jr., 59, passed away at Brigham & Women's Hospital on August 21st, surrounded by his heartbroken family after a courageous battle with melanoma. Family meant everything to Bob and he was always happiest spending time with Carolyn and their three boys - Ian, Kyle and Brice. Together Bob and Carolyn built their boys a loving home and a childhood brimming with joyful memories - backyard forts and ice rinks that Bob built; late-night hockey games under star-filled skies; orchard bonfires; rounds of golf and basement parties filled with family and friends; Cape vacations with the BC gang; and countless more happy memories and life lessons learned. Throw in two German Shepherds, three chocolate and one black Labrador, tons more hockey and Bob was in love with his full life. Bob loved his boys and instilled in them how lucky they were to have each other. "Your brothers are your best friends," he constantly told them and everyone knew, that if you took on one O'Connor, you took on them all. The rock-solid foundation of growing up as loving brothers and best friends is a treasured gift from Bob that will carry Ian, Kyle, and Brice together through life with grace, strength, and love. The deep bond connecting his boys is the ultimate testament to Bob as a dad. Bob always said how lucky he was to have Carolyn and from their first date, when Carolyn's heart latched onto her gentle giant, she knew Bob was the best thing to ever happen to her. He was a faithful, loving husband for what would be 34 years of marriage on August 23rd. Most importantly, Bob was the best dad she could have ever imagined for their boys. Bob was born the youngest of three boys on April 2, 1961 in Germany and grew up in Billerica, MA. He was a four-year, standout goalie for the Billerica High School hockey team, where he registered an 82-5- 3 record and two state championships. He went on to play at Boston College where he was a 1982 Beanpot's Eberly award winner, represented the United States at the World Junior Championships and finished his career in the Winnipeg Jets organization after being drafted in 1981. In 1996, he was inducted into the Billerica High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The dignity and value of an honest day's work was just one more life lesson Bob gave his boys. A hard-working and dedicated employee of Market Basket for 31 years, Bob was the Assistant Manager of the bustling South Nashua, NH store 13. Bob will be deeply missed by his loving wife Carolyn; his boys and their life partners (whom Bob proudly referred to as "his girls") Ian O'Connor and LeighAnn Dudek of Stoneham, MA; Kyle and Blaine O'Connor of Warwick, RI; Brice O'Connor and Samantha Loring of Falmouth, ME; and adorable grandsons Declan and Keegan, who are already proving to be loving brothers. Bob is also survived by his father Robert and brothers Mike and Tom; mother-in-law Carol Lecomte; sister-in-law Linda Lecomte, who will be forever grateful that he generously shared his magnificent sons with her; sister-in-law Judie and her husband Ralph Velleca; brother-in-law John and his wife Kelly Lecomte; a niece, and several nephews. Bob was predeceased by his mother Christine, father-in-law John E. Lecomte, and family dogs Champ and Thunder. Bob's Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St. Stoneham on Thursday at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's name can be made to The Friends of Dana Farber, 450 Brookline Ave., Suite 120, Boston, MA 02215