Joseph T. O'Connell

Joseph T. O’Connell of Quincy died peacefully at his home in Harwich after a brief illness on Monday, June 6, 2011 at age 92. While taking courses at the MA School of Art, he worked as a bellboy at the Hotel Brunswick where he met his wife Rita who was a hat check girl. Joe was a practice goalie for the Boston Bruins before entering the Army in WWII. Injured in Africa, he fought on for a year, not wanting to leave his comrades. After collapsing in Italy, he was sent home with a Purple Heart. Joe worked for a while for the US Postal Service before working for The Atlantic Monthly for much of 23 years as Production Manager and later for 8 years as a consultant. An avid reader, he loved sports and was great at sketching and painting. Sharp as a tack until the end, he was a kind and gentle soul with a great sense of humor who could have fun anywhere and will be greatly missed.

The beloved husband of the late Rita M. (Sheridan) O’Connell, Joe was the loving father of Joan Ricker and her husband James of Middleboro and Richard O’Connell and his husband Scott Santelmann of Harwich; dear grandfather of Linda Steen and Lisa Ballerini; brother of the late William and Herbert O’Connell, Margie Hasselbrack, Kay Fawcett and Harriet Szableski. He was also a great grandfather and great-great grandfather.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, June 8 from 4:00 to 8:00pm at the Dennis Sweeney Funeral Home 74 Elm St. Quincy Center. Family and friends are invited. On Thursday there will be a gathering at the funeral home at 10:00am followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00am at Holy Trinity Parish Our Lady of Good Counsel Church 227 Sea St. Quincy. Burial with Military Honors will be at Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.

Donations in Joe’s memory may be made to VNA Hospice, 434 Route 134, Suite D-3, So. Dennis, MA 02660.