Dec. 26, 2019 – Fr. Thomas V. O’Connor, SJ, was called to eternal life on December 23, 2019. Fr. O’Connor died at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, N.Y. He was born on May 6, 1932 in Brooklyn, N.Y., entered the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on September 7, 1950, and was ordained on June 20, 1963 at the Fordham University Church, Bronx, N.Y. He pronounced his final vows on August 15, 1966.
Obituary
Fr. Thomas V. O’Connor, SJ, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on May 6, 1932. His parents were William and Anna (Cronin) O’Connor. Fr. O’Connor attended Brooklyn Prep and, immediately after graduation, entered the Society of Jesus on September 7, 1950, at St. Andrew-on-Hudson.
In 1954, Fr. O’Connor went to Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, to study Philosophy and Chemistry, and in 1957, he became teacher of Latin and Mathematics at McQuaid High School in Rochester, N.Y. In the summer of 1960, after his regency at McQuaid, Fr. O’Connor went to Woodstock College in Maryland to study Theology.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 20, 1963, in the Fordham University Church by Bishop Joseph Maria Pernicone. Fr. O’Connor then returned to Woodstock to complete his theological studies.
It was in Auriesville, N.Y., that he made his year of Tertianship in 1964-65.
After that he began what was to be his life-long vocation, teaching Chemistry and Mathematics at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City. This he carried out for the next 45 years. During this time he also did pastoral ministry.
In 2011, Fr. O’Connor moved to the Bronx to live at Loyola Hall on the Fordham Campus, where he continued doing pastoral ministry in the area. He worked at the Jewish Home as Chaplain for many years.
Finally, Fr. O’Connor moved to Murray-Weigel Hall in 2012 and, despite failing health, continued to serve as Chaplain to the Jewish Home. He died on Monday, December 23, 2019, shortly after suffering a stroke. He served others right up to the end.
Arrangements
WAKE:
Friday, December 27, 2019
Murray-Weigel Hall Chapel
3:00-5:00 p.m. and 7:00-8:30 p.m. (Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.)
515 East Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL:
Saturday, December 28, 2019—11:30 a.m.
Murray-Weigel Hall Chapel
515 East Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458
BURIAL:
Jesuit Cemetery, Auriesville, NY