John C. O'Connell, Jr., age 82
Retired Pandell-Bradford Company Maintenance Technician
TEWKSBURY, MA: John C. O'Connell, Jr. age 82, a resident of Tewksbury, MA for 52 years, formerly of Boston and Portland, ME, passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA following a brief illness.
He was the beloved husband of Joan E. (Briggs) O'Connell with whom he celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on September 14, 2011.
Born in Portland, ME on March 7, 1929, he was the son of the late John C. O'Connell, Sr. and the late Rose(Ouellette) O'Connell.
John was raised in Portland, ME, attended Portland schools .
In 1947, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War with the 29th Air Transport Squadron. He served in the Air Force for nine years and attained the rank of Master Sergeant as an Aircraft Electrician.
Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a Maintenance Technician by the Pandell-Bradford Company of Lowell, MA. Mr. O'Connell previously worked for many years as an Aircraft Electrician for North East and Delta Airlines at Logan International Airport in Boston.
Mr. O'Connell was active in Tewksbury youth sports, where he coached baseball and football for many years.
He was a faithful member and communicant of St. William's Church.
Among his many interests were traveling and spending time with his wife and family, reading, and attending sporting events.
In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by four children, John C. O'Connell, III and his wife Linda of Andover, MA, AnneMarie E. Karthas and her husband Michael of Londonderry, NH, Daniel J. O'Connell and his wife Linda of Stratham, NH and Peter J. O'Connell of Tewksbury, MA; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth, Erik and Christopher O'Connell, Michael, Timothy and Stacy Karthas, and Thomas and Caitlin O'Connell; also many nieces and nephews.
Mr. O'Connell was the brother of the late Margaret Tracy, Janet O'Connell, Sheila Ellerbroke, Robert, James and William O'Connell.
Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Funeral Mass to be celebrated on Monday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m., at St. Williams Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury, MA. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the charity of one's choice.