Thomas C. O'Connor

Thomas C. O'Connor (October 9, 1927 – January 16, 2001) was a one term Republican mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut from 1981 to 1983. He had previously served a term in the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 140th District. He was a junior high school history teacher in the Norwalk public schools for 35 years.

Early life and family

He was the son of Dorothy Page O'Connor^[2] of Norwalk. O'Connor attended St. Mary School, Center Junior High School, and Norwalk High School where he played football.^[2] He was a graduate of Fairfield University in its first graduating class.^[2] He served two tours of duty with the U. S. Navy Air Force, first in World War II and then in the Korean War.^[2] He was a history teacher in the junior high school and middle school levels in the Norwalk school system for more than thirty-five years, and also worked nights and weekends for many years as a new car salesperson in Norwalk.^[2]

Political career

O' Connor served as a member of the Norwalk Common Council.^[2] In 1974, he was defeated in his race for the seat representing the 140th district in the Connecticut House of Representatives to Democrat William Collins.^[3] When Collins resigned his house seat in 1977 to take office as mayor, O'Connor won the seat in a special election over Democrat Alberta Hawkins and took office on February 2, 1978.^[2][4] He served on the Committees on General Law and Public Personnel and Military Affairs.^[2] O'Connor was a candidate for mayor in 1979, but lost to Collins. On November 3, 1981 O'Connor was elected mayor, defeating the incumbent Collins and Independent Henry F. B. Higgins.^[5] He took office in 1982.

Post mayoral activity

O'Connor was a major force in resurrecting a World War II Honor Roll in Norwalk, and bringing it up to date four decades after it had been dismantled, and in revitalizing a memorial to a Vietnam War of Honor recipients in the city of Norwalk.^[2] In 1988, the Honor Roll of veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam was completed. It lists the names of 6,687 WWII members, 340 from Korea and 429 from Vietnam. ^[6]

Awards

• He was honored by the Norwalk Old-Timers Athletic Association in 2000. He was well known for his support for athletics by young people in Norwalk. He was a football official for high school games in Fairfield County and he rarely missed a sporting event of the Norwalk High School athletic teams.^[2]
• In 2000, O'Connor was named to the Norwalk High School Alumni Association Teacher Honor Roll^[7]

Legacy

• In January 2001, The Connecticut General Assembly passed House Resolution No. 11 "A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SYMPATHY ON THE DEATH OF THOMAS C. O'CONNOR"^[2]
• He was a founder of the Heritage Wall in Norwalk^[2] and the park adjacent to it is named Thomas C. O'Connor Park in his honor.

References