EASTHAMPTON, MA: Charles R. O’Connor, 90, passed away on Friday morning, September 12th with family members by his side. He was born on October 15th, 1923 in Westfield, Massachusetts to Charles and Doris (Dunn) O’Connor. Charles was a graduate of Westfield High School. He served in the United States Army during WWII, training with the 10th Mountain Infantry division at Camp Hale, Colorado where he was trained in Nordic and Alpine skiing; he later served in Europe.
He followed in the family timber business begun by his father and eventually formed O’Connor Lumber Company with his brother John D. O’Connor, in Westfield, Massachusetts where he had a long and successful career.
He married Eileen Vachon of Holyoke, MA in 1947 and settled in Westfield where they raised their five children. In the early 1970’s the family moved to a farm in Southampton, MA where they spent the next 28 years. Charles and Eileen enjoyed traveling and visited many countries over the years. They built a home in Worthington, MA in the late 1990’s where they were active members of the Worthington Golf club. For thirty years they wintered in St Croix in the Virgin Islands spending time on the beach and playing golf with their many friends at the Reef community. Three years ago the couple moved to the Lathrop Community in Easthampton, MA where they enjoyed a quieter lifestyle and making new friends.
Charles loved the outdoors. He was an enthusiastic skier and took his family on many ski vacations. He was never happier than when he was planning a building project, which included the families’ homes. When one project was complete (or nearly so) he would start imagining the next. In his later years, he managed many acres of woodlands in the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires.
He leaves his wife of 67 years, Eileen Vachon O’Connor, five children; Lawrence O’Connor and his wife Barbara Turner Delisle of Hatfield, MA, Michael O’Connor of Northampton, MA, Ellen O’Connor of Raleigh, North Carolina, Timothy O’Connor and his wife Annie of Southampton, MA and Anne O’Connor and her husband Glendon Chamberlin of New Marlborough, MA. In addition he leaves his ten grandchildren, Emily, Jakob, Courtney, Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Marissa, Oona, Giselle and Liam and one great-grandson Brayden. He loved having everyone gather at their home for holidays and special occasions. He will be remembered forever for his generosity with his family and friends.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at the Lathrop Community, Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Linda Manor for their expert care, kindness and guidance during his time with them. There will be a celebration for family and friends to honor Charles’s life on Saturday September 20th, 2014 from 1pm to 4pm, in the Inn at the Lathrop Community 100 Bassett Brook Drive (off Florence Road) in Easthampton, MA. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a contribution to a charity of your choice.
