Jack O'Connor - Class of 1952 (1935-May 11, 2011)

After high school, I attended Napa Jr. College, played football, and earned an AA degree. I returned to Manchester and worked at the BOJOCK lumber company for 14 years, married, and had four children. Expanding my education was a priority, so I attended Sonoma State University, received a B. S. degree with a major in P. E. and a minor in biology, and a secondary teaching credential. Petaluma High School was my teaching and coaching base for over 30 years. I taught science for 26 years and coached wrestling for 4 years. Coaching duties in football and baseball lasted for over 30 years. I'm presently retired, live in Petaluma, married to Ellie, and enjoy fishing and hunting.

(Jack passed away May 11, 2011 about a year after he attended our 2010 reunion. Jack was a wonder friendly fellow, and I enjoyed watching him play basketball on the Bojock Lumber Company team with his best buddy Gary Ohleyer and the Girelli twins Lawrence and Leonard against the Air Force team starring Dean Green and Kay Spack. I saw a lot of the games because I would run the time clock and scoreboard.)

Jack's obituary in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Teacher Jack O'Connor was a bear of a man, but his imposing demeanor belied his gentle and encouraging nature as a longtime coach to hundreds of Petaluma athletes.

O'Connor died unexpectedly May 11 after entering a San Francisco hospital with pneumonia. He was 76.

A longtime biology, physical science and drivers ed teacher at Petaluma High School, O'Connor was perhaps better known as a successful football, baseball and wrestling coach.

Hundreds of friends and family are expected at a celebration of his life at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Petaluma Sheraton. Visitation will be today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory in Petaluma.

O'Connor was hired as a teacher at Petaluma High in 1971. He retired in 1995 but continued coaching, serving under head football coach Steve Ellis for nearly three decades. He was still helping coach baseball this year.

"People referred to him as a gentle giant, and he was a very gentle, loving person," said Ellison, who visited his longtime friend in the hospital last week.

"But what stands out more than anything, though, is that he was a great teacher of fundamentals," Ellison said. "He really loved the kids and was strong at teaching kids not just how to block or swing a bat, but how to be a good citizen and do the right thing always."

His eldest son, Bob, said his father started coaching even before he got his teaching credential. He set up a basketball league for junior high school kids in the 1960s when he was living in Manchester on the Mendocino County coast.

O'Connor was born in Eureka to a family in the lumber industry and the family lived in nearby Samoa. Later, in Manchester, a young O'Connor worked at the Bojock Lumber Company felling and peeling trees.

He graduated from Point Arena High School in 1952, married and raised his four children in Manchester before moving to Rohnert Park to attend college and earn his college degree and teaching credential.

He loved hunting, camping and fishing, although he seemed to have at least as much fun observing nature than actually bringing home a fish, his family said.

Teaching - in the classroom and in the athletic arena - came naturally. "He did it in a very practical way," said his wife of 20 years, Eleanor "Ellie" O'Connor of Petaluma. "He talked plainly about how things should be done. The kids knew that he loved them and they knew they could trust his advice."

 O'Connor taught so many kids over the years that he couldn't remember all the names, so he began calling people "Bud." That, in turn, became O'Connor's nickname.

"People come up to me now and ask me if I'm Bud's son," Bob O'Connor said.

Ellie O'Connor, also a longtime Petaluma High teacher, said it's been comforting to hear touching stories about her husband in the past week.

"It's his legacy, one that he has shared in such a positive way," she said. "How can I not be glowing when I hear these things about a man I loved dearly and had 20 wonderful years with?"

In addition to his wife and oldest son, O'Connor is survived by daughter Cathy Guy of Albuquerque, sons Kelly O'Connor of Red Bluff and Larry O'Connor of Sand Point, Idaho, step-son Matt Schmitka of Petaluma; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Petaluma High School baseball or football program, c/o Petaluma High School, 201 Fair St., Petaluma, 94952.