John O'Connor

John D. O'Connor
John D. O'Connor, 94, passed away peacefully at his Sherman, Connecticut home on October 3, 2018, with his wife, Andrea, at his side. In addition to his wife, John is survived by daughter Susan O'Connor of Portland, Oregon, and granddaughter Leda O'Connor of Nashville, Tennessee. His daughter Sally predeceased him.
A celebration of a life well lived will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Sherman on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.
John and Andrea enjoyed 44 years of marriage punctuated by love, laughter, mutual support, and many memorable trips to St. Barts, Nantucket, and Las Vegas.
John was born and raised in New York City, where he attended parochial schools, graduating from Chaminade High School. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II, stationed in Alaska for most of his years in the service, working with weather squadron on the island of Shemya, near the end of the Aleutian chain. Following his discharge, he attended Bethany College in West Virginia, majoring in English with a minor in French.
Upon graduation from college, John worked for American Airlines and then began his own retail business. He later worked for Lederle as a pharmaceutical salesman. He then took a position in advertising sales at the American Journal of Nursing Company, eventually being promoted to Director of Marketing and Advertising Sales.
Wanting to do something that would give him a sense of purpose and personal fulfillment, he enrolled in the nursing program at Hunter College, attending school in the evenings, doing his clinical work at Bellevue Hospital, and graduating with a bachelor of science degree, magna cum laude, all while still working in his "day job." When his daughter Sally died after 22 years of illness, he left his job in New York City in order to help others in some meaningful way. He was hired by Danbury Hospital as one of the first men to work as a pediatric nurse. He also worked for the Danbury Visiting Nurse Association and as an adjunct professor of pediatric nursing at Western Connecticut State University.
John was an active sportsman, competing in football, basketball, and track and field throughout high school and college. In his later years and into his 80s, he played competitive basketball in an over-40 league, competing nationally in basketball and track and field events with the Senior Olympics.
Most in Sherman knew John because of his nearly 30 years of involvement with the Sherman School, first as a volunteer and then as a special education paraprofessional, working in the classroom setting. Honored by the Sherman Parent Teacher Organization in 1992 as a "Friend of Education," John made a real difference in the lives of so many young people, opening the door to the gift of reading, coaching boys and girls in basketball, or just being a kind and calming influence in the classroom.
John served on the Sherman Board of Selectmen for six years, on the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Board of Assessment Appeals, and the Housing Commission as well as being a Justice of the Peace. Having served on the town's Recycling Committee and as town representative to the Housatonic Resource Recovery Authority, he was a frequent volunteer for the Hazardous Waste Day in New Milford. He also served on any number of ad hoc committees, including the first committee to study the need for senior affordable housing and another concerning elderly tax relief.
As a Selectman, John worked with First Selectman Ken Grant and others as a member of the concept group that recommended using a grant for the track and basketball court at Veterans Field and the walking trails at Colonial Park. He was twice the keynote speaker at Sherman's Memorial Day ceremonies, once Grand Marshal of the parade, and served as Master of Ceremonies for the dedication of Sherman's Veterans Memorial at Old Town Hall. He also served with Gary Albert and Janet Hopkins on the Bicentennial Committee, suggesting the fireworks that closed that year of festivities.
John's background in nursing led to several town-related volunteer activities. For many years, John was involved with FISH, first as a driver and then as manager of the lending "closet," delivering equipment to Sherman residents needing a medical device. He also served as President of that organization. John was Sherman's representative to the New Milford Visiting Nurse Association, serving as President and as one of the original volunteers for the New Milford VNA Hospice, as well as the town's representative to the Northwest Regional Mental Health Board. He was an EMT with the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department and, as a nurse, was involved for 15 years doing free blood pressure screenings at the Senior Center.
John also volunteered at Holy Trinity Church, the Sherman Library, and other town organizations. He was an organizing member of the Sherman Veterans Association and served as chairman of the Scholarship Committee. He personally planted and watered many of the Kousa dogwood trees around town as a member and Vice-President of the Sherman Garden Club. He joined Susan Boosey of the Sherman Congregational Church and Sandy Keane of Holy Trinity to create Hungerford Place, a local food bank that delivered food to those in need.
John's volunteer service was recognized over the years. In 1996, he was the recipient of a "Successful Aging Award" from Connecticut Community Care in recognition of life-long accomplishments and community service. In 2005, he was presented with the Sherman Citizen Award for tireless service to the town and its citizens as well as a Public Service Award from Connecticut's Secretary of State. The following year, friend and follow volunteer, Guido Tino, called him the "consummate volunteer who leads by example."
Most recently, recognizing changes occurring in Sherman's population due to the country's economic condition, John realized that there was much more to be done beyond his capacity as an individual, working with a small group of friends to form the non-profit organization, Sherman Cares, which serves as the "resource of last resort" for Sherman individuals and families in need. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Sherman Cares, PO Box 611, Sherman, CT 06784 or through the organization's website at shermancares.org.