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Brian Christopher "Chink" O'Connell

FUNERAL HOME

Vaca Hills Chapel Funeral Home - Vacaville

524 Elmira Road

Vacaville, California

Brian O'Connell Obituary

Aug. 28, 1984 - May 24, 2005

Brian Christopher "Chink" O'Connell died May 24, 2005, in a motorcycle accident on Knoxville Road, Napa. He is survived by his parents, Bob and Cathy; brother, Tim; grandmother, Marie Davis; and aunts, Eileen and Sheila O'Connell.

Born Aug. 28, 1984, in Fairfield, Brian was loved by all who knew him. He was tenacious in the pursuit of his goals, accomplishing anything he put his mind to. He lived his life with such fearless abandon, adventure, and love for everyone in his life. He enjoyed skating, rebuilding various vehicles and, most of all, his motorcycles and Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu.

Brian, there is far less color in the world without you in it, you had so many friends and family members that loved you dearly and will never be the same without your smiling face to look up to. We will all keep you in our hearts forever. Be at peace and know that your memory lives with us all.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Vaca Hills Chapel, 524 Elmira Road, Vacaville.

A memorial account has been established in Brian's name at Travis Federal Credit Union in Vacaville. Contact Travis Credit Union, Attn.: MSA Dept., P.O. Box 2069, Vacaville, 95696.

Visit the online guest book at www.thereporter.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Reporter on May 29, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Brian O'Connell

Sponsored by Cathy O'Connell.

28 Entries

Grandma Millie

May 24, 2025

Just sending you a hug and a reminder how very special you are to me
Love you with all my heart (and 1/2 my gizzard)
(what my momma used to tell me_( smile)

Grandma Millie

May 23, 2024

you will always have a special place in my heart.
Hope you and Mike and Chris have met and enjoying 'heaven' together
love you always
Grandma Millie

grandma Millie

May 24, 2023

You will always have a 'very' special place in my heart. I'm just blessed to have had a part of your life in mine . Miss you
Grandma Millie

Millie Rositano

May 23, 2021

I miss you as much today as I did the day you went to heaven.
I hope you and Mike and Chris are together rollerblading all
over heaven. I love you dear sweet Brian and I'm proud that
you were a part of my life as long as you were here on earth.
Hugs
Grandma Millie

Keli Doreen Gatlin

May 23, 2020

Always thinking about you.

Millie Rositano

May 23, 2020

15 years ago one of the lights of my life went to heaven. I miss him as much as I miss Michael and Christopher. I hope the guys reunited in a better place together and are safe and happy . I will always feel like I shared the honor with Marie of being Brians grandma. I love you Brian and I know you knew I loved you because you showed your love to me in return. A Very Special Place in my heart is where you still live on

Grandma Millie Rositano

May 23, 2019

Fourteen Years ago my heart cried for the loss of a young man who was loved by many and he loved many.
Today I feel the loss the same as I did back then. I'm just proud that Brian and his family were like my
extended family. He taught me a lot about life. I will miss him forever but know that God had better plans for him.

Braulio Flores

July 24, 2011

Brian we were the best friends been through alot together we shared so many memories together loved all the samethings skating biking climbing fighting you name it we done it my family thought of you as their other son you in Tim I could not express the loss I have in my heart with you gone I love you PS Cathy or Tim its braulio Flores if you see this text or call me please 7074301095

Rob

May 24, 2006

He was as real as it gets. Brian never hesitated to tell you what was on his mind.

His unmistakeable talent will never be forgotten. Brian "CHINK" O,Connell lives on in all of us.

Rachael Jensen

June 22, 2005

Brian i never thought anything like this would happen to you of all people. i still dont understand why. i will never forget all the good times spent with you. you were a good friend to all, i cant think of anyone who did not like you. you will be greatly missed and never forgoten.

Anne Conrad

June 17, 2005

I can't believe that something like this could ever happen to Brian.You can never picture something so bad happening to someone that was so good. I dated Brian for a while a fews years back and there has always been a place for Brian ever since we went our seperate ways. He was the first person that I ever really loved and cared about and I will never forget all the times that he made me laugh. I think about you everyday and there will always be a place for you in my heart.

ash

June 11, 2005

Truly the spirit around us all!Chink had such a wonderful soul and was so intelligent-never holding back. For 10 years he taught me much about myself and the world-i feel so lucky and thankful that he was brought into my life. He will be missed dearly and left an impression on many hearts, of friends and even people that just meet him!!!Never Forgotten...

Tim (arnie) Kostrewa

June 3, 2005

Brian,

We had many adventures ranging from rafting in cache creek, to skating in LA, or anywhere around here in the bay.

You were the inspiration for all of us that skated with you me and you feed of each other and progressed because you and i kept pushing each other further and further. Its hard to believe that you are gone and you will be missed by everyone, Dont worry about your unfinished projects me and gil will take care of you truck man. Much love , ill see you when i see you.

Tim aka arnie

John Hall

June 1, 2005

Brian, even though we didn't hang out much you were always honest and nice to everyone. I considered you a friend. You made coming to work more bearable by having someone cool to talk to once in a while. I wish we could have spent more time doing stuff. Please know that you will live on in our thoughts and hearts...

Erica Purther

June 1, 2005

I knew Brian from working with him at Galaxy 8. I remember when I started he was always projection Mon-Fri. He was always so nice and always said "hi" when he came in to visit after quitting. His passing came as a shock to me when I heard it. I regret never really getting to know him. To the O'Connell family- I am very sorry for this loss. He will be missed, but never forgotten.

CHRISTINA DALLAS

June 1, 2005

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME. MY FAMILY HAS HAD SUCH GREAT MEMORIES WITH BRIAN AS THEY GREW OVER THE YEARS. AMAZING TALENT BRIAN HAS DISPLAYED IN EVERYTHING HE DID, AND ALWAYS VERY POLITE. MY BOYS HAVE KNOWN HIM THROUGH ROLLERBLADING AND "HANGING OUT AT OUR HOUSE", AND ANDREWS PARK. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

Jason kopf

May 31, 2005

Its hard to imagine that two days after we last saw eachother it would be the last. you truely were a good man and im sad to see you go so soon. it is so weird writing this because i feal like your still here, like nothing ever happened. I wish it was all a bad dream. Thank you for being you and all the good times we had. you will always be in my prayers....Jay

David and Heather Skeen

May 31, 2005

Our hearts are with you in your time of sorrow. Our prayers are with you and your family and Brian's memory lives on with you and those who loved him.

Blanca Hidalgo

May 30, 2005

My deepest condolences to your family. My prayers are with you. May the Lord give you comfort and heal your broken heart are my prayers to you.

keli gatlin

May 30, 2005

I would like to send my sympathy to brians family,I know this is one of the worst times you are all going through now and you are all in my thoughts. I would like to share my memories of your son with you and to honor your son,brother and grandson brian.I met brian as he was a friend of my son michael.I actually knew him by his nickname " chink".He would come to my house and the boys would always go rollerblading with many other kids,I have never seen any of the boys without their skates on,that was their passion and was brian a talented skater! I remember watching them many times at andrews park, Brian was the first to perform a flip and I was just amazed at all the tricks that he could perform.He was always nice and respectful to me as well as others and I have only fond and great memories of him,May he look down at everyone and smile,seeing those who care for him. Wishing him the best in his new life journey."chink" You are loved by many and will be missed dearly.

Love Keli

maribel carlson

May 30, 2005

Our family will miss Brian deeply. We will never forget what a great friend he has been to our son Will.We will miss his contagious smile and his love of life.

The Nishida Family

May 30, 2005

Dear O'Connell Family,

From our family to yours we send you heart felt condolences during this very difficult time.

May 29, 2005

Brian was such a great person and he was an even better friend. He had one of those smiles that could light up the room and make everyone laugh. His personality and his heart was one in a million and the world is a little less without him. Brian, we are all better people for knowing you and I pray you are at peace.

Ronald Lane

May 29, 2005

They say that only the good die young. Well it is most certainly true in Brian's case. I did not know Brian very well, but I do know that he was one of the brightest,finest, most mature young men I've known. Failure was not an option for Brian; Nor was second best. He had to succeed no matter what the situation. I will think fondly of Brian every time I play Moto GP on playstation or see a motorcycle on the road.

I offer my deepest condolences to Brian's family and friends.

petra Kostrzewa

May 29, 2005

We are so sorry for your loss.He was a good friend to our Son Tim.Always welcome in our house.We ate going to miss him.

justin anselmo

May 29, 2005

growing up with brian over the years i would have never thought that something like this would happen to him. he was the most talented person i knew and everything he did he took it serious and did it well. he was never handed anything he worked for everything he had. you couldnt ask for a better friend, this tragety will be felt by everyone who knew him. i want to express my feelings to his family, brian is a man who will be missed and i am deeply sorry that something like this happened to him.

Millie Rositano

May 29, 2005

Dear Family

I love you all. My heartfelt smypathy goes out to you. Brian has always been a very 'special' part of my life. He knew how much I loved and cared about him and I felt the 'grandmotherly' love from him in return. He had the deepest respect for himself and showed that respect to each person that came into his life. I always enjoyed his visits and I am going to miss him terribly. I am just thankful that such a wonderful young man was a part of my life's journey.

Going to miss you dear Brian. I know you are one of God's angels teaching others how to roller blade and ride those heavenly motorcycles. Two of the loves of your short life....God Bless

Vaca Hills Chapel

May 28, 2005

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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