John J. O'Connor

O'Connor, John J.

John J. O'Connor (J.J.) of Stony Point, passed away at the Rockland County Infirmary on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at the age of 83 following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's. JJ was born on June 8, 1928 in Manhattan, NY to John and Maryellen (Sullivan) O'Connor. He atended St. Rita's Grammar School in the Bronx and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1945. He married his childhood sweethear Jean Marie Downey on February 25, 1951 at St. Francis of Rome Church in Bronx, NY. JJ served in the U.S. Army from 1950 until 1952. He retired from the NYC Police Department as a Detective in 1974 after 20 years of service. He continued working after retirement at the NY Zoological Society and Bolliger Moving & Storage. He was a member of the Rockland County Shields and the North Rockland Social Club. He was proud of his Irish heritage, enjoyed a round of golf and cards with his friends, and loved his summers with his extended family at Long Beach Island, NJ.

J.J. is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years and their four children, Patricia McAlpin and her husband John, Kevin O'Connor and his wife Kathleen, Maureen Roberts and her husband Stuart, and James O'Connor and his wife Patricia. He is also survived by his 10 cherished grandchildren, Erin Galt, Brian McAlpin, Fay Holbrook, Kerri and Maureen O'Connor, Meaghan, Christpoher, and Jameson Roberts, and Kathleen and Evan O'Connor; and his 7 great-grandchildren. J.J. is further survived by his sister, Mary Porette and brother, Eugene. John leaves behind numrous nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Family and friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 1 and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 2 at the Edward C. Finn Funeral Home, Stony Point. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 3 at St. Gregory Barbarigo Church, with entombment to follow at Ascension Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be made to Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.