John James O'Connor

John James O'Connor of Newton, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026. He spent his final days surrounded by family and friends, listening to classical music.

He was born on April 22, 1937, at 44 Putnam Street in Watertown, Mass., to John and Hannah O'Connor, immigrants from Ireland. He grew up immensely proud of his Irish heritage and upbringing in Watertown.

A lifelong engineer, John was the first person in his family to go to college and earned his Bachelor and Master's degrees from MIT, his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and Master's in Aerodynamics. He spent his 40+ year professional career designing jet engines at General Electric in Lynn, Mass.

John had an extraordinary appreciation and understanding of classical music, with a remarkable passion for the work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He attended countless concerts and operas throughout his lifetime, and continued to be a devoted listener, even in his last weeks.

He also had a great appreciation of beauty, art, and design. John owned and enjoyed restoring one of his prized possessions, a classic Mercedes-Benz convertible that he bought in 1961. He transformed his backyard into an authentic Japanese garden. He shared his exceptional taste for travel, food, and fine wine with family and friends.

John is survived by his beloved wife Ellen (de Schweinitz) O'Connor, and his 3 daughters, Sarah O'Connor of Jamaica Plain, MA, Katherine O'Connor and son-in-law Shahed Mosharrof of Brooklyn, NY, and Elizabeth O'Connor of Brooklyn, NY. He is also survived by his siblings Robert O'Connor of Palmetto Bay, FL, Edward O'Connor of Pinecrest, FL, and many cherished nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary E. Barry of Watertown, MA.

Funeral services will be private. The family will host a celebration of his life at their home in Newton later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's name may be made to Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble, 14 High St., Cambridge, MA 02138.