Thomas O'Connor

1944 - 2017

Thomas Martin O'Connor

June 21, 1944 - January 9, 2017

Tom O'Connor passed away at age 72 after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer's disease. A third-generation San Francisco native, he was born in San Francisco in 1944, the eldest child to Thomas and Lenore O'Connor. Tom's father served as the City Attorney of San Francisco from 1961 to 1977. Tom attended St. Brendan Elementary School, St. Ignatius College Preparatory, Class of 1962 and University of San Francisco, Class of 1966. He was a Vietnam War veteran serving in the United States Navy. Tom was a member of UA Local 38 Plumbers and Pipefitters, eventually became owner and partner of Cable Car Plumbing and later owner of the House of Fans.
Tom married the love of his life, Maureen Connelly, in 1966 just days prior to his deployment to Vietnam. They eventually settled in the Westlake District of Daly City where they raised their two sons, Tom and Brian. Tom was an active member of Our Lady of Mercy Parish and St. Ignatius for many years.
Tom remained very close to his group of high school friends, all San Francisco natives, aptly named, "The Happiness Boys." Tom also had many buddies from his days spent at Harding Park and the Olympic Club, Our Lady of Mercy Parish and Westlake. He had a great sense of humor and was blessed with the gift of the gab. He loved telling a new joke and giving the "needle" to family and friends. He enjoyed watching his sons play sports and given the chance would never have missed watching his grandchildren compete.
Tom had a lifelong passion for sports and an outdoor lifestyle. Throughout his life Tom enjoyed fishing, water skiing, pool, darts, tennis, cycling, but his true passion was golf. Originally taught the game by his aunt at Golden Gate Park's par 3 golf course in high school, he later honed his game across all of the San Francisco public courses. Prior to Tom becoming a golf member of the Olympic Club, he served as the President of the Harding Park Men's Club. Tom enjoyed competition and participated in numerous golf tournaments throughout his life. Perhaps his greatest joy was competing with his sons, consecutively for 22 years in the Family Tournament at Golden Gate (formerly known as the Father & Son), finally winning the Championship Flight title in 1998.
We would like to thank all those who offered moral support to Maureen, our family, and with the care for Tom over the 18+ years he spent with the disease. Tom spent many years at the Westborough Manor care home and his dedicated caregivers, Angelito Sotingco and Lirio Hernandez, deserve special acknowledgement and gratitude for their great care of Tom, truly doing God's work.
Tom was predeceased by his parents and sister, Kathy O'Connor. Tom is survived by Maureen, his wife of 51 years, two sons, Tom (Pam) of Walnut Creek and Brian (Debbie) of San Carlos; 5 grandchildren, Tommy and Caitlin (Tom/Pam) and Aidan, Sean and Megan (Brian/Debbie). Sister-in-laws, Terry (Al) Groh, Beth Connelly, and many nieces and nephews.
Dad, after a very long wait, you were finally called to the first tee, enjoy the round… you earned it. Family and Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass and reception to celebrate Tom's life on Friday, January 27, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Ignatius College Preparatory Orradre Chapel, 2001 37th Ave. San Francisco, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The O'Connor Family Scholarship at St. Ignatius College Preparatory, or the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org.