Joseph T. O’Connor, 82, son of Stephen and Margaret O’Connor, died on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, in Vero Beach, FL. He graduated from Fenwick High School, Oak Park, IL, in 1943. He served in the US Navy during WW II, stationed in the Aleutian Islands. He was General Sales Manager of Reuben H. Donnelley Corporation (Chicago) 1948-1959, Owner of O’Connor Shell in Lighthouse Point, FL, 1959-1965; Inventor of the pre-cursor to the wave-runner, “Sea Jeep” n 1965; Owner of Sea-Jeep Inc. from 1966-1970; Executor Broker of Ice Cream and other leasing opportunities for Cong Celtic Corporation 1971-2007. Surviving are his sons, Patrick, Stephen, Michael and Joseph, daughters, Maureen, JoAnn and Elizabeth; granddaughters, Kerry Lorenzo, Erin Davies, Kim Steinmetz, Summer and Kelly Yount, grandsons, Patrick, Daniel, Seamus, Ruairi, Patrick Yount, James Yount, Greg Steinmetz and great granddaughter, Kaya Caitlin O’Connor. He was predeceased by his brother, Stephen (Duke) O’Connor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, at St. Helen Catholic Church Vero Beach. In lieu of flowers please send charitable donations to St. Joseph’s Institute for the Death in University Park, MO, in memory of Joseph T. O’Connor. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home Vero Beach, Florida.
