James Michael "Jim" O'Connor

On January 29, Jim left this life as he lived it, quietly. He was thoughtful, private, precise, a man of few words. He had a quick wit and a wonderful dry sense of humor. He loved the films and music of the ’30s and ’40s. “Casablanca” was his favorite film. He was a student of history, particularly naval history and WWII. He was a lifelong ham radio enthusiast.

A love of numbers and logic prevailed throughout his life. He pursued a career in computer science. The first machine he wrote code for was the UNIVAC. At the other end of the spectrum, he was recently teaching himself Python. In his spare time, he enjoyed preparing taxes. In retirement, he perfected Excel spreadsheets and became a sudoku devotee. 

He was a loyal alumnus of Boston Latin School, a proud former U.S. naval officer, and always a West Roxbury boy at heart. He studied at Babson, and at Harvard where he met Joan, the love of his life, working on a production of "A Streetcar Named Desire."  They enjoyed 67 years together.

He will be greatly missed. He was the son of the late James and Anne (Gallagher) O'Connor He is survived by Joan, daughters Wendy Marcotti (Michael) of Beverly, Lynne O'Connor (Eric Schweikert) of Arlington, VA, and Aimi O’Connor (Albert Gervais) of Sterling, VA; granddaughter Annie Schweikert (Connor Hoge) of Menlo Park, CA; grandson Ned Schweikert (Nico Montano) of Washington D.C.; brother Robert (Sylvia) of Kennebunk, ME; nephew Michael (Lara) of Alexandria, VA; and niece Malysa of Kennebunkport, ME.

Visitation will be Friday, February 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Eaton Funeral Home in Needham. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, February 10, at St. Joseph Church, Needham.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim's name to Boston Latin School, the U.S. Naval Institute, or the Seashore Trolley Museum.

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