Mr. Gerald "Rory" O'Connor

Gerald Barnard O’Connor, 94, died Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at Hillcrest Commons after months of declining health. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Claire (Warner) O’Connor; his sons Douglas (Nancy Fisher), Robert (Magalie Danier) and Rory; his daughter Sharon O’Connor (Tom Honigford); his grandchildren Robert, Christian (Sarah), Emma, and Cora. He is predeceased by his sister Elizabeth (Patrick) McGurk and his grandson Jean-Paul. Gerald (nicknamed Rory) was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 24, 1928 and was the son of G. Waldron O’Connor and Elizabeth Carroll O’Connor. His formal education began at St. Albans School in Washington, DC. He graduated in 1946 from Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He then went on to receive a B.A. in 1950 from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where he was co-captain of the lacrosse team and a member of St. Anthony Hall fraternity. After school he managed his family dairy farm in Sheffield for a few years then changed careers, first in public relations for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft then as a reporter for, successively, The Manchester Herald, The Hartford Courant and The Hartford Times, all of Connecticut. He moved back to Massachusetts to become a reporter for the Berkshire Eagle of Pittsfield in 1963 and covered various subjects including sports, agriculture, City Hall, and education; he was also a contributor to the “Our Berkshires” column. He retired from the Eagle in 1994. Rory was a man of many talents and interests, including beekeeping, birdwatching, drawing, gardening, history, music, carpentry, and traveling. He had a great intellect and curiosity, was well-read and fascinated with words and books and current events. He was a skilled raconteur and always gracious when he beat the pants off you in Scrabble. Having a life-long interest in scholastic sports, he became a referee for secondary school lacrosse and soccer across western Massachusetts. He was a member of the Thursday Evening Club, the Berkshire Concert Choir, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society. He was also a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church of Pittsfield where he was a choir member. Funeral Notice: Visiting hours for Rory will be Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 2pm to 4pm at the Dwyer-Wellington Funeral Home in Pittsfield, 220 East Street, Pittsfield MA 01201. The funeral will be held at St Stephen’s Church on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Stephen’s Table or the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Mr. Gerald "Rory" O'Connor

December 24, 1928 - November 15, 2023