Gerard O'Connor

1935 - 2023

A Man for All Seasons

Methuen

Gerard O'Connor who died peacefully on Dec. 8 at the age of 88, has now made the Irish Sports Pages which he followed daily in the newspapers.

Born in Lowell, MA. he lived in Methuen for the last 40 years.

Gerry was Professor Emeritus at UMass Lowell where he taught for 37 years. He related to his students so well that many remained his friends for life. He was the eternal mentor – always encouraging his younger friends and neighbors to continue to educate themselves.

At the age of 81, he wrote a novel, Don Newcombe drills a millionaire, and was infamous for the many Roast-worthy birthday poems he wrote for friends and family. Shared at parties, these usually caused great hilarity (and more than a few blushes).

An avid hiker, Gerry climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan, all the New England 4,000 footers, and introduced his children to the woods from the time they could walk.

He was a prolific reader. Losing his sight never slowed him down. Thanks to Perkins Books for the Blind, he read everything. His thirst for knowledge was never quenched, nor did he ever stop learning. His curiosity had Google on overtime.

With his gregarious personality, Gerry gathered lifelong friends everywhere he went, from his 2d grade schoolmates to his Harvard roommates, to the lifeguards he worked with on Salisbury Beach, to the Corner Booth at the Courthouse in Chelmsford, to his fellow faculty at the University, to his neighbors in Lowell and Methuen, all of whom benefited from his contagious optimism and generosity of spirit.

Known as the Poolmeister, Gerry kept in touch with his far-flung buddies by running every kind of friendly pool his vivid imagination could invent. He was competitive at many sports. Boxing at Harvard, playing ping-pong, pool, tennis, and racquetball. He really enjoyed poker, preferably with psychiatrists. He said they were easy marks because they never wanted to hurt anyone's feelings.

Above all else he was a family man. Husband, lover, best friend and companion of 40 years to Christine Nolan.

Proud father of Steven O'Connor, Amesbury, MA; Marianne O'Connor, Lisbon, ME; and Denis O'Connor, Lisbon, ME

Honorary father to Kirsten Lanouette, Haverhill, MA; and Craig Ford, Methuen, MA.

Much loved grandfather to Curran O'Connor, Riley O'Connor, Leah Kovitch, Lynn Kovitch and Flannery O'Connor

Most of all, he was always genuine. His stated goal was to try to live up to his best image of himself.

And in that, he succeeded.

At Gerry's request, there will be no wake or funeral. His family will scatter his ashes in the White Mountains he loved. At a later date, there will be the party he wanted where stories and memories can be shared. A donation in memory of Gerry may be made to the Perkins Library, 175 N. Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02472.



View the online memorial for Gerard O'Connor