Peter J. O’Connor, Sr. Obituary (1940 - 2018)

Mr. Peter J. O'Connor, Sr., 77, died on Friday, January 5, 2018 at his home in West Caldwell. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish at Immaculate Conception Church, Montclair on Wednesday, January 10 at 10 am. Visiting in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona on Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm. Born in Kearny and raised in North Arlington, Mr. O'Connor lived in Montclair, Bloomfield and Caldwell. He then moved to Essex Fells, where he raised his 3 sons and hosted legendary dinner and holiday parties, including the celebrated Thanksgiving Brunch. He moved to West Caldwell 7 years ago. He was a proud graduate of St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, NJ and earned a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and an M.B.A. from Rutgers University in Newark, NJ. Mr. O'Connor worked as a Certified Public Accountant for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company and Irving Trust before assuming the position of President for the Bank of Bloomfield and then the Intercommunity Bank, after which he began his own accounting firm, O'Connor, Deisler, P.A. He was also the President of the West Essex Community Health Services and a long-time member of the West Essex Chamber of Commerce. Peter was an avid golfer and long-time member of the Essex Fells Country Club, where he served on the Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Honey, were avid travelers and enjoyed many trips with their incredible friends. He was fortunate to continue with his amazing travel adventures after his wife's passing with his devoted lifelong friends. He was a Yankees and Giants fan, who rarely missed a game. Mr. O'Connor was the beloved husband for 31 years of the late Maureen "Honey" O'Connor (nee Fleming), the loving father of Peter J. O'Connor, Jr., M.D. and his wife, Sarane, Kevin J. O'Connor and his wife, Judy and Brendan F. O'Connor and his wife, Beth. He was the cherished grandfather of his 7 grandsons, Patrick, Timothy, Kevin A., Ross, Ian, Colin, Brody and his one and only granddaughter, Hope Maureen O'Connor. He was also the step son of Agnes O'Connor, the brother of Judy McDonald, Donald O'Connor (Eileen), Dennis O'Connor (Mila) and Gerard O'Connor and brother-in-law of Jim Linehan. He was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Margaret O'Connor, and his sister, Maureen "Penny" Linehan. In lieu of flowers, donations to either the Parkinson's Foundation (www.parkinson.org) or Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org) would be appreciated.