John Jay O'Connor, III, of Phoenix, Arizona and Washington, DC, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, in Phoenix, Arizona, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Born in San Francisco, CA, to Dr. John Jay O'Connor, II, and Sally Flynn O'Connor, John attended St. Ignatius High School, where he studied both Latin and Greek. John then attended Stanford University for a bachelor's degree in 1951 and a law degree in 1953. While a student at Stanford Law School, John was honored to be selected for the Stanford Law Review. He was assigned to work on an article with one of the school's few female students, Sandra Day, and quickly fell in love with her. They were married on December 20, 1952 at the Lazy B Ranch in Southeast Arizona. Upon John's law school graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army and served three years in the Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) Corps. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, from 1954 through 1956. Sandra was employed as a civilian attorney by the Quartermaster Corps.
Upon his Army discharge, John and Sandra lived for a time in Kitzbuhel, Austria, learning to ski and play tennis. They returned to Arizona in 1957 in anticipation of the birth of their first son, Scott. John joined the law firm of Fennemore Craig Von Ammon McClennen and Udall. He became active in the community and in the Arizona Republican party as president of the Young Republicans. In addition, John chaired both Arizona Crippled Children's Services, a precursor to Phoenix Children's Hospital, and Valley of the Sun United Way. He was a steady advocate for United Blood Services of Arizona, organizing blood drives every year. John was a member of the Rotary Club 100 and also served as president. John also served on the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors. John was honored to serve as a Judge Pro Tem in Maricopa County Superior Court. Upon moving to Washington D.C., John joined the firm of Miller & Chevalier, and later, Bryan Cave. John was a great orator, joke teller, master of ceremonies, dancer and sports enthusiast. John is survived by his wife, Sandra, and sons, Scott (Paradise Valley, AZ), Brian (Scottsdale, AZ) and Jay (San Francisco, CA). He had 6 grandchildren, Courtney, Keely, Adam, Weston, Dylan and Luke. He adored his daughters in law, Joanie (Scott) and Heather (Jay).
Memorial services will be private.
Contributions may be made in John O'Connor's name to Huger Mercy Living Center (2345 West Orangewood Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021), O'Connor House, LLC (c/o Rio Salado Foundation, P.O. Box 1737, Tempe, AZ 85280-1737) or St. Ignatius
College Prep (2001 37th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94116).
Published by The Arizona Republic on Nov. 13, 2009
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John J. O'Connor III, a lawyer who went to Washington in a historic role, as the husband of the first female U.S. Supreme Court justice, has died. He was 79.
Sevices Private.
O'Connor died Wednesday in Phoenix of complications arising from Alzheimer's disease, the court said in a statement. He had been diagnosed with the disease nearly two decades ago.
After Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court in 1981, her husband gave up a partnership at a venerable Phoenix law firm to accompany her to Washington.
Soon after the couple arrived, a reporter asked him, "How do you feel about being in the supporting role?" He responded, "Sandra's accomplishments don't make me a lesser man. They make me a fuller man."
In Washington, he practiced at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier but in 1988 switched to another firm, Bryan Cave, which allowed him to spend time in Phoenix and take advantage of his contacts there.
A civic leader, the confident and witty O'Connor was once described as "a magnificent man full of Irish humor and tales," by family friend Alan K. Simpson, a former senator from Wyoming.
Fixtures on the Washington social circuit in the 1980s and 1990s, the couple were known for their ballroom dancing.
By 2000, O'Connor had retired, and as his condition worsened he spent much of the workday with his wife. She retired from the court in 2006 to care for him but within months had to place him in an assisted-living facility in Phoenix.
As his memory faded, he no longer recognized his wife of more than 50 years and struck up a romance with a fellow Alzheimer's patient. The O'Connor family publicly shared the poignant turn of events.
"Sandra sees this as a bright spot in his life that would otherwise be dark and lonely," former FBI Director William Webster, a family friend, told People magazine in 2007. "She felt if this gave him a little sunshine, why, that's great."
John Jay O'Connor III was born Jan. 10, 1930, in San Francisco, the son of physician John O'Connor II and his wife, Sally.
After earning a bachelor's from Stanford University in 1951, O'Connor met his future wife at Stanford's law school. They fell for each other while proofreading a law review article and then dated for the next 40 nights, she wrote in her memoir.
The couple married in 1952 at an Arizona cattle ranch that was her childhood home.
After he graduated from law school in 1953 and joined the Army, his wife accompanied him to Frankfurt, Germany, where he worked in the Judge Advocate General's Corps until 1956.
Upon returning to Phoenix, the O'Connors took the Arizona bar exam together.
In 1957, he joined the firm of Fennemore, Craig, von Ammon & Udall, and primarily handled general corporate matters before resigning in 1981.
In addition to his wife, O'Connor is survived by their three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay, and six grandchildren.
Services will be private.
Published in The Los Angeles Times
Upon his Army discharge, John and Sandra lived for a time in Kitzbuhel, Austria, learning to ski and play tennis. They returned to Arizona in 1957 in anticipation of the birth of their first son, Scott. John joined the law firm of Fennemore Craig Von Ammon McClennen and Udall. He became active in the community and in the Arizona Republican party as president of the Young Republicans. In addition, John chaired both Arizona Crippled Children's Services, a precursor to Phoenix Children's Hospital, and Valley of the Sun United Way. He was a steady advocate for United Blood Services of Arizona, organizing blood drives every year. John was a member of the Rotary Club 100 and also served as president. John also served on the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors. John was honored to serve as a Judge Pro Tem in Maricopa County Superior Court. Upon moving to Washington D.C., John joined the firm of Miller & Chevalier, and later, Bryan Cave. John was a great orator, joke teller, master of ceremonies, dancer and sports enthusiast. John is survived by his wife, Sandra, and sons, Scott (Paradise Valley, AZ), Brian (Scottsdale, AZ) and Jay (San Francisco, CA). He had 6 grandchildren, Courtney, Keely, Adam, Weston, Dylan and Luke. He adored his daughters in law, Joanie (Scott) and Heather (Jay).
Memorial services will be private.
Contributions may be made in John O'Connor's name to Huger Mercy Living Center (2345 West Orangewood Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021), O'Connor House, LLC (c/o Rio Salado Foundation, P.O. Box 1737, Tempe, AZ 85280-1737) or St. Ignatius
College Prep (2001 37th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94116).
Published by The Arizona Republic on Nov. 13, 2009
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John J. O'Connor III, a lawyer who went to Washington in a historic role, as the husband of the first female U.S. Supreme Court justice, has died. He was 79.
Sevices Private.
O'Connor died Wednesday in Phoenix of complications arising from Alzheimer's disease, the court said in a statement. He had been diagnosed with the disease nearly two decades ago.
After Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court in 1981, her husband gave up a partnership at a venerable Phoenix law firm to accompany her to Washington.
Soon after the couple arrived, a reporter asked him, "How do you feel about being in the supporting role?" He responded, "Sandra's accomplishments don't make me a lesser man. They make me a fuller man."
In Washington, he practiced at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier but in 1988 switched to another firm, Bryan Cave, which allowed him to spend time in Phoenix and take advantage of his contacts there.
A civic leader, the confident and witty O'Connor was once described as "a magnificent man full of Irish humor and tales," by family friend Alan K. Simpson, a former senator from Wyoming.
Fixtures on the Washington social circuit in the 1980s and 1990s, the couple were known for their ballroom dancing.
By 2000, O'Connor had retired, and as his condition worsened he spent much of the workday with his wife. She retired from the court in 2006 to care for him but within months had to place him in an assisted-living facility in Phoenix.
As his memory faded, he no longer recognized his wife of more than 50 years and struck up a romance with a fellow Alzheimer's patient. The O'Connor family publicly shared the poignant turn of events.
"Sandra sees this as a bright spot in his life that would otherwise be dark and lonely," former FBI Director William Webster, a family friend, told People magazine in 2007. "She felt if this gave him a little sunshine, why, that's great."
John Jay O'Connor III was born Jan. 10, 1930, in San Francisco, the son of physician John O'Connor II and his wife, Sally.
After earning a bachelor's from Stanford University in 1951, O'Connor met his future wife at Stanford's law school. They fell for each other while proofreading a law review article and then dated for the next 40 nights, she wrote in her memoir.
The couple married in 1952 at an Arizona cattle ranch that was her childhood home.
After he graduated from law school in 1953 and joined the Army, his wife accompanied him to Frankfurt, Germany, where he worked in the Judge Advocate General's Corps until 1956.
Upon returning to Phoenix, the O'Connors took the Arizona bar exam together.
In 1957, he joined the firm of Fennemore, Craig, von Ammon & Udall, and primarily handled general corporate matters before resigning in 1981.
In addition to his wife, O'Connor is survived by their three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay, and six grandchildren.
Services will be private.
Published in The Los Angeles Times
John Jay O'Connor, III, of Phoenix, Arizona and Washington, DC, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, in Phoenix, Arizona, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Born in San Francisco, CA, to Dr. John Jay O'Connor, II, and Sally Flynn O'Connor, John attended St. Ignatius High School, where he studied both Latin and Greek. John then attended Stanford University for a bachelor's degree in 1951 and a law degree in 1953. While a student at Stanford Law School, John was honored to be selected for the Stanford Law Review. He was assigned to work on an article with one of the school's few female students, Sandra Day, and quickly fell in love with her. They were married on December 20, 1952 at the Lazy B Ranch in Southeast Arizona. Upon John's law school graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army and served three years in the Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) Corps. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, from 1954 through 1956. Sandra was employed as a civilian attorney by the Quartermaster Corps.
Upon his Army discharge, John and Sandra lived for a time in Kitzbuhel, Austria, learning to ski and play tennis. They returned to Arizona in 1957 in anticipation of the birth of their first son, Scott. John joined the law firm of Fennemore Craig Von Ammon McClennen and Udall. He became active in the community and in the Arizona Republican party as president of the Young Republicans. In addition, John chaired both Arizona Crippled Children's Services, a precursor to Phoenix Children's Hospital, and Valley of the Sun United Way. He was a steady advocate for United Blood Services of Arizona, organizing blood drives every year. John was a member of the Rotary Club 100 and also served as president. John also served on the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors. John was honored to serve as a Judge Pro Tem in Maricopa County Superior Court. Upon moving to Washington D.C., John joined the firm of Miller & Chevalier, and later, Bryan Cave. John was a great orator, joke teller, master of ceremonies, dancer and sports enthusiast. John is survived by his wife, Sandra, and sons, Scott (Paradise Valley, AZ), Brian (Scottsdale, AZ) and Jay (San Francisco, CA). He had 6 grandchildren, Courtney, Keely, Adam, Weston, Dylan and Luke. He adored his daughters in law, Joanie (Scott) and Heather (Jay).
Memorial services will be private.
Contributions may be made in John O'Connor's name to Huger Mercy Living Center (2345 West Orangewood Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021), O'Connor House, LLC (c/o Rio Salado Foundation, P.O. Box 1737, Tempe, AZ 85280-1737) or St. Ignatius
College Prep (2001 37th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94116).
Published by The Arizona Republic on Nov. 13, 2009
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John J. O'Connor III, a lawyer who went to Washington in a historic role, as the husband of the first female U.S. Supreme Court justice, has died. He was 79.
Sevices Private.
O'Connor died Wednesday in Phoenix of complications arising from Alzheimer's disease, the court said in a statement. He had been diagnosed with the disease nearly two decades ago.
After Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court in 1981, her husband gave up a partnership at a venerable Phoenix law firm to accompany her to Washington.
Soon after the couple arrived, a reporter asked him, "How do you feel about being in the supporting role?" He responded, "Sandra's accomplishments don't make me a lesser man. They make me a fuller man."
In Washington, he practiced at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier but in 1988 switched to another firm, Bryan Cave, which allowed him to spend time in Phoenix and take advantage of his contacts there.
A civic leader, the confident and witty O'Connor was once described as "a magnificent man full of Irish humor and tales," by family friend Alan K. Simpson, a former senator from Wyoming.
Fixtures on the Washington social circuit in the 1980s and 1990s, the couple were known for their ballroom dancing.
By 2000, O'Connor had retired, and as his condition worsened he spent much of the workday with his wife. She retired from the court in 2006 to care for him but within months had to place him in an assisted-living facility in Phoenix.
As his memory faded, he no longer recognized his wife of more than 50 years and struck up a romance with a fellow Alzheimer's patient. The O'Connor family publicly shared the poignant turn of events.
"Sandra sees this as a bright spot in his life that would otherwise be dark and lonely," former FBI Director William Webster, a family friend, told People magazine in 2007. "She felt if this gave him a little sunshine, why, that's great."
John Jay O'Connor III was born Jan. 10, 1930, in San Francisco, the son of physician John O'Connor II and his wife, Sally.
After earning a bachelor's from Stanford University in 1951, O'Connor met his future wife at Stanford's law school. They fell for each other while proofreading a law review article and then dated for the next 40 nights, she wrote in her memoir.
The couple married in 1952 at an Arizona cattle ranch that was her childhood home.
After he graduated from law school in 1953 and joined the Army, his wife accompanied him to Frankfurt, Germany, where he worked in the Judge Advocate General's Corps until 1956.
Upon returning to Phoenix, the O'Connors took the Arizona bar exam together.
In 1957, he joined the firm of Fennemore, Craig, von Ammon & Udall, and primarily handled general corporate matters before resigning in 1981.
In addition to his wife, O'Connor is survived by their three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay, and six grandchildren.
Services will be private.
Published in The Los Angeles Times
Upon his Army discharge, John and Sandra lived for a time in Kitzbuhel, Austria, learning to ski and play tennis. They returned to Arizona in 1957 in anticipation of the birth of their first son, Scott. John joined the law firm of Fennemore Craig Von Ammon McClennen and Udall. He became active in the community and in the Arizona Republican party as president of the Young Republicans. In addition, John chaired both Arizona Crippled Children's Services, a precursor to Phoenix Children's Hospital, and Valley of the Sun United Way. He was a steady advocate for United Blood Services of Arizona, organizing blood drives every year. John was a member of the Rotary Club 100 and also served as president. John also served on the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors. John was honored to serve as a Judge Pro Tem in Maricopa County Superior Court. Upon moving to Washington D.C., John joined the firm of Miller & Chevalier, and later, Bryan Cave. John was a great orator, joke teller, master of ceremonies, dancer and sports enthusiast. John is survived by his wife, Sandra, and sons, Scott (Paradise Valley, AZ), Brian (Scottsdale, AZ) and Jay (San Francisco, CA). He had 6 grandchildren, Courtney, Keely, Adam, Weston, Dylan and Luke. He adored his daughters in law, Joanie (Scott) and Heather (Jay).
Memorial services will be private.
Contributions may be made in John O'Connor's name to Huger Mercy Living Center (2345 West Orangewood Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021), O'Connor House, LLC (c/o Rio Salado Foundation, P.O. Box 1737, Tempe, AZ 85280-1737) or St. Ignatius
College Prep (2001 37th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94116).
Published by The Arizona Republic on Nov. 13, 2009
Contributed by Starfishin [#48860385]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John J. O'Connor III, a lawyer who went to Washington in a historic role, as the husband of the first female U.S. Supreme Court justice, has died. He was 79.
Sevices Private.
O'Connor died Wednesday in Phoenix of complications arising from Alzheimer's disease, the court said in a statement. He had been diagnosed with the disease nearly two decades ago.
After Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court in 1981, her husband gave up a partnership at a venerable Phoenix law firm to accompany her to Washington.
Soon after the couple arrived, a reporter asked him, "How do you feel about being in the supporting role?" He responded, "Sandra's accomplishments don't make me a lesser man. They make me a fuller man."
In Washington, he practiced at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier but in 1988 switched to another firm, Bryan Cave, which allowed him to spend time in Phoenix and take advantage of his contacts there.
A civic leader, the confident and witty O'Connor was once described as "a magnificent man full of Irish humor and tales," by family friend Alan K. Simpson, a former senator from Wyoming.
Fixtures on the Washington social circuit in the 1980s and 1990s, the couple were known for their ballroom dancing.
By 2000, O'Connor had retired, and as his condition worsened he spent much of the workday with his wife. She retired from the court in 2006 to care for him but within months had to place him in an assisted-living facility in Phoenix.
As his memory faded, he no longer recognized his wife of more than 50 years and struck up a romance with a fellow Alzheimer's patient. The O'Connor family publicly shared the poignant turn of events.
"Sandra sees this as a bright spot in his life that would otherwise be dark and lonely," former FBI Director William Webster, a family friend, told People magazine in 2007. "She felt if this gave him a little sunshine, why, that's great."
John Jay O'Connor III was born Jan. 10, 1930, in San Francisco, the son of physician John O'Connor II and his wife, Sally.
After earning a bachelor's from Stanford University in 1951, O'Connor met his future wife at Stanford's law school. They fell for each other while proofreading a law review article and then dated for the next 40 nights, she wrote in her memoir.
The couple married in 1952 at an Arizona cattle ranch that was her childhood home.
After he graduated from law school in 1953 and joined the Army, his wife accompanied him to Frankfurt, Germany, where he worked in the Judge Advocate General's Corps until 1956.
Upon returning to Phoenix, the O'Connors took the Arizona bar exam together.
In 1957, he joined the firm of Fennemore, Craig, von Ammon & Udall, and primarily handled general corporate matters before resigning in 1981.
In addition to his wife, O'Connor is survived by their three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay, and six grandchildren.
Services will be private.
Published in The Los Angeles Times
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