Sean Mitchell O'Connell

1958 - 2023

Mitchell It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Sean Mitchell O'Connell, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend on June 10, 2023, at the age of 64, in an accident at the family cabin in Wisconsin.

Sean was born in Madison, Wisconsin on June 24, 1958, son of David L. and Harriet E. (Lynch) O'Connell, who preceded him in death. Sean grew up in the town of Middleton, Wisconsin where attended school and his family were active members of St Bernard Catholic Church.

Sean completed his undergraduate degree at UW Madison and returned to graduate school in the UW Madison School of Business Masters in Real Estate Program, setting the stage for an exceptionally successful thirty year career with Securian Financial in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he held the roles of CIO of both Minnesota Life Insurance Company and Securian Life Insurance Company and President of Securian Asset Management. Sean was deeply respected and appreciated for his integrity, sense of humor, and steady hand by colleagues across the country.

There is no way to describe Sean's deep and enduring love for his family. He was a proud and loving father, always there with a quick joke and sound advice, with unwavering support and dedication for his daughters and for his wife, who he loved with all his heart. Sean's "girls" were truly the center of his universe and being a father and life partner was his greatest purpose.

Sean loved the outdoors, and many of the most cherished moments of his life were those spent hunting and fishing, hiking and biking, towing kids tubing for hours on the lake, sitting in front of a bonfire late into the evening, star gazing, storm watching, and any chance he could get, golfing with his friends.

Sean was a music lover and a traveler, a brilliant man with a wry sense of humor and an easy going approach to life. He made time for the people he loved and had a unique ability to keep in sight the things that mattered most. He was loyal and honest, self-made and hard working, he was an adoring and dedicated father and husband, and a friend who could be counted on. He was "true to the core" and his passing leaves a tremendous hole in our hearts.

He leaves behind, his wife of 26 years, Belinda (Simmons) O'Connell; children Fiona A. O'Connell and Rowan E. O'Connell; brothers Kevin M. O'Connell (partner Quinn Callahan) and Padraic R. O'Connell and relatives from the Lynch, O'Connell and Simmons clans as well as many dear friends and colleagues from Securian and across the country, but especially his childhood lifelong buddies.

We hope you can join us for a Celebration of Sean's Life on Friday, July 21,2023 at the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St, Madison, Wisconsin. Gathering will start at 3:00 pm, with a short program and sharing of memories around 4:00 pm, food, and the enjoyment of good company afterwards. We want to hold onto Sean in every way we can so please bring a short story or a fond memory to share.

The family is establishing a memorial scholarship in Sean's name to support an adult student returning to school in the UW Madison School of Business Master of Real Estate Program after working. Memorial contributions can be mailed to Belinda O'Connell, 5110 Arrowhead Dr., Monona, WI, 53716 (please make gift checks out to the University of Wisconsin Foundation in memory of Sean O'Connell and please put Sean O'Connell memorial on the check memo) or contribute online at supportuw.org/giveto/oconnellmemorial