Index Order a Free web page Send a Free Sympathy Card
"Every exit is an entry somewhere" ---playwright Tom Stoppard

Jimmy O'Connor - A star has fallen....

This is something you don't - and probably shouldn't - truly understand until you reach a "certain" age:  the stars start falling from your sky with increasing rapidity.  The famous, the creative, the Nobel winners, the inventors, one's casual acquaintances, neighbors and old friends, and the everyday people who added so much to their surroundings, their community and the lives of their friends and family.  Such a person was Jimmy O'Connor. 

Both Jimmy and Barbara were raised in Allapattah and attended school, including Jackson High.  Barbara has told me many stories of her escapades as a youngster and teenager, such as sneaking away and hiding in Mr. Master's garage/barn at the rear of his home on 23rd Avenue for forbidden smokes with friends, including Master's daughter, Virginia, who still lives in Miami.

Jimmy's parents were both teachers at Jackson High for years.  His mother, Thelma O'Connor, taught English from perhaps the early 40's until her retirement in 1971.  His father, Charles O'Connor, taught Physics, Social Studies and Chemistry for years, and distinguished himself, I'm sure in the memories of many, by dropping dead right in front of a class in 1950.

From Jimmy's obituary:

O'CONNOR JAMES E., Born Jan. 27th, 1934 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Died Oct. 23, 2002 in Miami, FL. of natural causes.  The son of educators, he moved to Miami in 1940.  He was a graduate of Miami Jackson Senior High class of 1952.  He attended the University of Miami, performing in the Band of the Hour until his graduation with a Masters Degree in Education in 1960.  He was an avid UM football and baseball fan.  

From 1952 until 1972, he played the trombone professionally on Miami Beach for such stars as Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Patti Page, Steve Lawrence, Edie Gorme, and the Carpenters among others.  

In 1960, he began his teaching career as an original teacher at the "new" Cutler Ridge Junior High School, where he taught biology to the first generation of "Ridge Rats."  In 1965 he became one of the first television instructors working out of the old Lindsey Hopkins Building in downtown Miami.  He also worked developing instructional films until the 1972 budget cutbacks eliminated his position.   

He moved to Miami-Dade Community College Kendall Campus where he began work in Open College.  He also served as a project director for various federally funded educational development projects.  He permanently returned to the classroom in the early 1980's to teach biology.  

Jim is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara; two sons, Kevin and Patrick; daughter-in- law Niurka; and his unborn granddaughter Amanda.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in his name be made to Barbara or Patrick O'Connor for Amanda's college education.  They may be mailed to P.O. Box 700317 Miami, FL 33170 c/o Patrick O'Connor. 

Jimmy fell ill at home, and was a few days in the hospital where the doctors failed to diagnose his problem.  Barbara (a customer of ours) says he was joking and in good spirits - as she was - right up to the unexpected and sudden end when he was about to be released from the hospital.  

We will remember Jimmy as an extremely  intelligent, outgoing friendly person who had lived life to the fullest, had so many interesting stories to tell, and had loved - and been loved - greatly by many family and friends.  He's going to be sorely missed.