WESTFIELD – Dennis M. O’Connor, 68, of Westfield, passed away on December 11th at Holyoke Medical Center following a brief illness surrounded by his family and friends. Born in Springfield, he grew up in Westfield, the son of the late Joseph and Barbara (Hickson) O’Connor. A man of unwavering faith, he remained an active communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Westfield.
Dennis graduated from Westfield High School in 1972 and went on to receive an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College before completing both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice at Western New England University.
Dennis had a profound passion for police work and began his career as a beat cop with the Westfield Police Department. A year later, he transferred to the Springfield Police Department where he proudly served his community until his retirement as a sergeant in 2010. Over his three decades, he served in the Traffic and Crime Prevention bureaus, the motorcycle division, as traffic reconstruction investigator, and most profoundly as a detective in the Robbery and Homicide Unit. A member of an incredible team of detectives, he utilized his intelligence and tenacious investigative skills to solve many high-profile homicide cases.
Dennis was chosen to represent the department in various parts of the country to teach and learn new skills in the field of forensic investigations. He was always honored to serve alongside his brothers and sisters in blue. He was a well-respected member in all levels of the criminal justice system, always representing his department in the most professional manner possible, especially when he marched with the Springfield Police and their city sister, Tralee, Ireland, in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Above all else, Dennis never wavered on his devotion, support and great love for his family and friends, always the larger-than-life loyal protector for those he loved. He never missed attending the varied sporting events and activities of his children and grandchildren, whether at a wrestling match for his son Jonathan, football games with his son Jason, a fencing tournament with his daughter Grace, or soccer, basketball or theater activities with his grandchildren.
Dennis was an avid motorcycle enthusiast who found peace and adventure on his Harley Davidson. His greatest times were spent traveling with family and friends on trips to Daytona, Sturgis, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Nova Scotia, and his favorite, the “The Tail of the Dragon ” in the Smoky Mountains. He loved to play a round of golf or to visit friends and relatives in other parts of the country, especially in the Golden Isles with his son’s family in Georgia. Extremely proud of his Irish heritage, he was a member of the Irish Cultural Center, loved Irish music and felt fortunate to travel several times to Ireland to explore the homeland of his ancestors.
Dennis was predeceased by his beloved wife, Colleen (Fallon) O’Connor, in 1999, and his loving parents, Joseph J. O’Connor (1981) and Barbara A. (Hickson) O’Connor (2021). His memory is left to be cherished by his children, Jonathan M. O’Connor, of Westfield, Jason M. O’Connor (Heather), of Brunswick, GA, and Grace M. Hand, of Darien, CT; his siblings, Patricia O’Connor LeClair (Rick), Kevin C. O’Connor (Joyce) and Kathleen O’Connor Sitler (James), all of Westfield. He will be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren, Rieghan O’Connor and her boyfriend Ryan, of East Longmeadow, Jonathan O’Connor, Jr. of Northampton, and Madison, Jacob, and Luke O’Connor, all of Brunswick, GA; his supportive friend Karen Hand, of Darien, CT, and his beloved in-laws, Stephen “Red” Fallon, Jeannie Pescitelli and Ellen Wojtowicz (Edzui), of Westfield and William Fallon (Tina), of St. Simon Island, GA.
He never missed a birthday party, graduation, or important life event, loyal to his family and friends and will be greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews, along with the abundant O’Connor, Hickson, Fallon and Hand relatives.
We would especially like to thank the Holyoke Medical Center for the great compassion and kindness they extended to Dennis and his family during his illness along with his son, Jonathan, for his daily dedication to his father’s care.
Calling hours for Dennis will be Friday, December 16th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Firtion Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad St., Westfield. Family and friends are welcome to join the procession at the funeral home at 9:30 am for a Liturgy of Christian Burial on Saturday, December 17th, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 30 Bartlett St., Westfield, with burial immediately following at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Southampton Road, Westfield. Donations in Dennis’ honor can be made to an organization dedicated to fallen officers at Ride to Remember, LLC, 1500 Main St., P.O. Box 15265, Springfield, MA 01115-5265.
Dennis, until we meet again, possibly on Clare Island, we love you. www.firtionadams.com
