ANNAPOLIS, MD. – Dr. John Richard O’Connor passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at his home in Annapolis, Md.
He is survived by his 11 children, Dick and Jeanne O’Connor, BJ and James Buckler, Jack and Teresa O’Connor, Mary O’Connor, Margaret and Dennis Casey, Dennis and Mary Lou O’Connor, Stan O’Connor, Jerry and Connie O’Connor, Kevin and Teresa O’Connor, Kathleen and John Richard Watson, Maureen O’Connor; 18 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; his sisters, Margaret Goodman and Betty Budd.
Dr. O’Connor was born July 27, 1918 in Binghamton. He was a graduate of St. Patrick’s High School, where he was a football quarterback. He served in the United States Army during World War II, before completing his undergraduate degree at Scranton University. He married the former Jeanne Collins of Binghamton on July 18, 1944. They were married for more than 62 years, until Jeanne’s death this past January. In 1957, he received his Ph.D. in Bacteriology from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Five of his children attended the graduation ceremony.
After graduation, Dr. O’Connor had a long and distinguished career as a microbiologist and researcher. He was a pioneer in the development of antibiotics, some of which are still being used today. He began his career at Norwich Pharmacal Company, and spent the last twenty years of employment as the Chief of Chemotheraphy Research at Sterling Winthrop Research Institute in Rennsselaer. He had been an invited speaker at several conferences of the International Congress of Chemotheraphy, and had numerous publications in scientific journals. Many of his children and grandchildren were influenced by his enthusiasm, and have entered the health field.
Dr. O’Connor was an avid traveler, and he and his wife enjoyed visiting Europe, the Far East and the Caribbean. He especially loved the exotic dishes, fine wines, and local music he discovered during these adventures and thoroughly enjoyed sharing them with his family. Dr. and Mrs. O’Connor relaxed in their Daytona Beach home for many winters, where, at the age of 79, he ran his first 5K road race. One year later, he solo-piloted a glider plane for the first time. A Pontiac man most of his life, Dr. O’Connor first achieved triple-digit speeds in a 1938 straight-8 LaSalle.
A funeral Mass will be offered at St. Patrick’s Church, corner of Oak and Leroy Sts., Binghamton, Saturday at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main St., Binghamton, on Friday from 4 - 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Dr. O’Connor be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, Md. 21401.