Richard D. "Dick" O'Connor

10/22/1937 - 1/14/2025

Old Saybrook - Richard "Dick" D. O'Connor died peacefully at his home in Old Saybrook, with his favorite view of Long Island Sound Jan. 14, 2025. He was born in Worcester, Mass. Oct. 22, 1937 to John D. O'Connor and his wife, Evelyn Anna Noonan.

Dick grew up with his sister, Maribeth, in a busy household with grandparents and multiple aunts, uncles, and cousins. He graduated in 1955 from Worcester Public Schools and was active in the school band and with Boy Scouts.

In 1955, Dick entered the College of the Holy Cross. He graduated from the college in 1959, and participated in the Naval ROTC. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and had two years of active duty. He served on destroyers in the North Atlantic as an engineering officer, and was subsequently attached to the Philippine Navy as an engineering instructor. He continued service in the Navy Reserve and ended his military service in 1969 as a lieutenant.

After active naval service, Dick attended Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C. Following graduation from Georgetown, he served as law clerk to the Honorable T. Emmet Clarie, United States District Judge in Hartford.

After a short time in general practice, Dick joined Jay S. Siegel and was a founding partner in the law firm of Siegel and O'Connor in Hartford, which specialized in labor and employment law. He retired from the firm as of Jan. 1, 2011.

He leaves his long-time companion, Elizabeth "Betsy" McLaughlin, whom he always called Liz, of Old Saybrook; his daughter, Corinne Montella of Bloomfield, NJ; his son, Dennis O'Connor and his wife, Karen, of Boston, Mass; his sister, Maribeth Gentile and her husband, Frank, of Philadelphia, Pa.; four nieces and nephews; and 13 great-nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was held at St. Peter's Church in Worcester, Mass. Jan. 21, followed by his burial at Hope Cemetery in Worcester with a view of Holy Cross. A luncheon was held at Holy Cross following the burial.

Dick was truly one-of-a-kind and special to each person who knew him. His courage, spirit, strength, determination, friendship, constant support, storytelling, wit, wisdom and sense of humor will live forever in our hearts. He will be forever missed by those he loved and who loved him.

"May the roads rise up to meet you; may the wind be always at your back; may the sun shine warm upon your face; and the rains fall soft upon your fields; and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."