Obituary of Robert Edel O'Connell

Robert Edel O’Connell of Dataw Island, South Carolina, died on February 10, 2020 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in New York City on March 31, 1939 to William J. O’Connell, attorney, of New York and Marion Murphy of Norwood, MA. His early childhood was in Roslyn, NY, Dunedin, FL, Kimberton, PA, Spring Lake, NJ and Newburgh, NY. He attended Regis High School in Manhattan and Fordham Prep and graduated with honors from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA in 1961. He was a proud veteran of the US Navy. His business career was at W.R. Grace & Co, New York and Boston, American Express, New York and the United Kingdom, the Albert Ellis Institute, New York, and as a consultant. Unfailingly generous, he always had time for a word of advice or encouragement. He coached soccer, was an avid reader (he seemed to know something about everything), travelled often, and thoroughly enjoyed his home life in Port Washington and South Carolina. An interesting and intelligent, never boring, one-of-a-kind father, husband and friend. His only brother Stephen predeceased him in 1997. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joanne, his sister Rosemary O’Connell of New York, NY, three children by his marriage to Martha Hurlbert: Beth Bellone of Chelmsford, MA, Karen O’Connell (Thomas Por) of Williamsburg, MA, Stephen O’Connell of Long Beach, NY, and two children by his marriage to Joanne Kearney: Evan O’Connell of Copper Mountain, CO and Sarah O’Connell of Long Beach, NY, and by six grandchildren: Luke and Sophia Bellone, Matthew O’Connell, Teagan O’Connell, Charlie and Nicholas Por and numerous Kearney nieces and nephews. He was proud of his five children who made their way in the world thanks to his support and encouragement. We will be lost without him. Family will receive friends to celebrate Robert’s life at Fairchild Funeral Home, Manhasset, NY, Monday, February 24, 2-4 pm, 7-9 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Peter of Alcantara in Port Washington on February 25, 2020, at 10:30 am, with interment at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to a charity of your choosing.