Birth date: Jun 26, 1930 Death date: Nov 23, 2020
Richard Francis O'Connor, age 90, of St. Clair passed away November 23, 2020. He was born June 26, 1930. He was married 70 years to his loving wife Jean. Father of 8 outstanding children, 19 brilliant grandchildren and 20 beautifu Read Obituary
Jean, I’m so very sorry to read of Dick’s passing. I hope you are well.
Margaret
Dearest Uncle Dick. He and my dad worked together for Guardian Fuel Oil before they changed it over to Mark line. I was having a discussion about tires with him at the Troy station one day. He told me that if I didn't have tread on my tires that there would be no way I could get up the hill on Adams Road by Meadow brook. I would just drive straight into the hill. He said it with such a straight face I wanted to believe him. To this day I always think of him as I drive up any hills.
Another big memory I had was when I was 8 or 9 and I heard my mom ask dad if Aunt Jean had that baby yet? Dad calmly replied yeah, I think a few days ago. Mom groaned and as I found out when I grew older dad and Uncle Dick were always in trouble because they would forget to let the wives know when a new baby came along. Jean and Donna were too busy with toddlers and babies to call each other so they had to rely on "the boys" to keep them up to date. With Dick's 7 and our 9 that was a lot of info they kept forgetting to pass along.
One last memory for now was Uncle Dick and our cousin Elizabeth dancing a tango at a family wedding. He even took a rose off a table and danced with it in his teeth. They were marvelous together and as in all things Uncle Dick did it was with his great laugh and sparkle in his eyes. One great gift he passed on to his children was that great laugh. They all have it. He will live on in our memories as we listen to the laughter of our RFO cousins. My love to you all and to dear Aunt Jean. Love💕Suzie
Oh Uncle Dick. I will miss you, your stories, your zest for life, travel, skiing, bicycle with a motor, your "cell" phone prank and so many other jokes you played and told.
Thanks for dancing with me at Jen's wedding because it felt like dancing with my Dad.
Heaven gained another golfer. I hope you're having a good time with those who have gone before you ❤️
Uncle Dick, He was a very special mentor to me. I had the luxury to work under his direction from age 13 to 21. My teen years. I remember one time when he thought it would be good for us to paint all the gas station canopies with the airless paint sprayer. WHITE- important to remember this detail. I painted Troy, then 9 mile & Central...on to Warren and Evergreen. He came down to do a station visit and saw me up on the scaffolding just painting away... He decided to park his Chrysler New Yorker (did I mention it was tuxedo black!) behind the station. Well a little breeze and viola! my over spray painted tiny little polka dots on his beautiful black Chrysler New Yorker in the back of the station.
Now Uncle Dick has a special way of getting alarmed in difficult situations--imagine a sumo wrestler preparing to attack---bent knees--hands out--determined look---and bouncing back and forth shifting his weight from foot to foot. YEP that is just what he did. He yelled up---JIMMY my car has paint all over it....and sped off to the car wash down the street. He came back and was bummed--we were using an oil base paint. The good news is he found a body shop to rub it out and it looked great again! (praise God)
Another time I was in the loft of the warehouse of the office--I was putting up the 8 foot power groove florescent bulbs in the rafters over my head 15 feet above the warehouse floor...and well I didn't have the box of 8 bulbs sealed on the end...needless to say they slid out one by one in succession--exploding on the concrete floor---here comes Uncle Dick running on to the scene as he heard all the explosions from inside the office YEP he assumed the sumo wrestler stance once again. He sized it up and said...you better get that cleaned up and went back inside. I can say honestly he was a pure joy to work with- he forgave me for all my teen age screw ups---yes even when I rear ended a car with the stake truck on Telegraph rd. I will miss him dearly.....but will never forget him!
May God bless him for the purgatory I put him through and may he rest in Peace as a good and faithful servant!
Jimmy O'Connor ( Nephew)
Uncle Dick was the quintessential O’Connor. A jovial and captivating storyteller, he was able to make everyone feel included, special and important. His presence at gatherings always made me happy, and I could always count on his warmth and a wonderful story or two about getting into good trouble.
I can’t say enough about what a wonderful man Dick was! Always a smile, always a joke, ALWAYS laughing!! I loved all his stories of family, adventures and travel. Never did get to see that motor on his bicycle! I will always cherish his friendship. ~Sonja
