Richard Joseph O'Connor

Richard Joseph O'Connor passed away on Thursday afternoon, March 17, 2016. He was married for 52 years to the late Patricia Ann McCaffrey O’Connor. He was born on April 8, 1929 in Gloversville, NY, son of John and Margaret O’Connor.

He was also pre-deceased by his sister Eileen Murphy and his brother John as well as his wife’s sisters Betty McCaffrey and Jane O’Leary and her husband Frank. He is survived by his children and grandchildren, John and wife Martha of Webster, NY, and their daughter, Katie; Ann Von Hagel and husband, Ed of Arlington, VA, and their son Nicholas; Stephen of Frederick; Richard of West Orange, NJ; and Michael and wife Tammy of Frederick and their daughters, Clare and Erin. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Bill Murphy, sister-in-law Rosemary O’Connor as well as many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Dick graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1952. After college he served in the US Army at Fort Detrick as a scientist.  Upon honorable discharge, he continued his career at Detrick.  After retiring there, he enjoyed a second career teaching high school science at St. John’s at Prospect Hall for ten years.

Dick was a longtime member of the parish of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, where he married his wife on April 14, 1956. In recent years, he was a member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish. He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus where he was a past Grand Knight and past Faithful Navigator. He was honored by the City of Frederick in September 2014 for 65 years of service with the Knights.

He had many interests, but his family came first. His children are proud of a man who was an exemplary husband, father, grandfather, uncle, Catholic gentleman and citizen.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM on Monday, March 21, at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. Rosary will be conducted at 8:45 PM Monday at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 11 AM at St. John the Evangelist Church, East Second Street, Frederick.  Rev. Keith Boisvert, Pastor, St. Katharine Drexel, will be the celebrant. Interment will immediately follow in Saint John’s Cemetery, Third Street, Frederick.

In recent years, one of Dad’s interests was the building of the new church at St. Katherine Drexel.  He made an effort to attend the groundbreaking despite his infirmities.  Accordingly, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Katharine Drexel Memorial Fund, 8428 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702.