Date de Décès: 2004-12-04
Date de Parution: 2004-12-31
Source: The Recorder & Times, Brockville, ON
Dr. Paul O'Connor, 59 Paul Daniel O'Connor, M.D., died at his home with his family by his side on December 4 after a long illness with cancer. He was 59. He received his bachelor of science at Loyola University in Montreal in 1965, his MD at Queen's University in Kingston in 1969, interned at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton and followed that with residencies in pediatrics and internal medicine at St. Joseph's. He started his practice in family medicine in Brockville in 1971, a practice that continued until 2001. He served as coroner from 1983 to 2001 and as medical director for St. Lawrence Lodge, Brockville Jail, Microtel-Brock Telecom and St. Lawrence College, and as medical officer of health for three years. He served on the Ontario Medical Association in various positions for over 20 years and received the Glen Sawyer Service Award from the OMA in 2002 for excellence of service to the profession and community. He was made a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 2002. After his illness forced his retirement, he became well-known extolling the experimental drug that gave him two more years of life. He was also able to support dozens of fellow patients with visits and phone calls. A dedicated doctor, he loved every aspect of his work. He was born April 8, 1945 in Kingston to Dr. Fergus J. O'Connor II and Constance O'Connor (nee Davidson) and grew up there with his five siblings, graduating from Regiopolis High School in 1962. He married Karen Lee Crandlemire on December 28, 1968 in Kingston. They moved to Hamilton, where first son Jeremy was born in 1970, and then settled in Brockville in 1971, where sons Roger and Andrew were born, in 1972 and 1974 respectively. Besides his career, his interests included travel and sports. He especially remembered his trips to Europe and across Canada. He was an avid sportsman and with his family enjoyed skiing, golfing, curling, swimming, boating, scuba diving and running. He coached Little League baseball for 10 years and helped Brockville host the Ontario and Canadian Little League championships. He also coached basketball at the YMCA. He was a dedicated member of St. Francis Xavier Church and served on the parish council and as an usher for many years. His faith was of utmost importance to him and an inspiration for others through his illness and death. After his retirement, he became known as "Doc" to the children with whom he enthusiastically volunteered at St. Francis Xavier School. Most of all he loved his family; he said that one gift cancer gave him was more free time to be a good grandpa. He is survived by his wife Karen O'Connor; sons Jeremy and wife Hilary of Brockville, Roger and wife Dora of Stittsville and Andrew and wife Jillian of Ottawa; and grandchildren Bridget, Bronwyn, Meredith, Robert and Izabel. Also surviving are his sisters, Mary O'Connor Kaiser, Brenda Murphy and husband Dan, and Maureen Allin and husband Gary, and his brothers, Michael O'Connor and wife Cheryl, Fergus "Chip" O'Connor and wife Jacqueline, Patrick O'Connor and wife Kate and Fergus Joseph O'Connor and wife Carol. He was predeceased by his parents, his stepmother Jean O'Connor and his sister Constance O'Connor. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated December 7 at St. Francis Xavier Church, Brockville, by Father Brian Price and Msgr. John Murphy. Burial followed at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Published in Section A, page 11 in the Friday, December 31, 2004 edition of the Brockville Recorder & Times. Posted 4:38:30 PM Friday, December 31, 2004.