James Patrick O'Connor

James Patrick O’Connor (Jim) passed away on August 27, 2026 at the age of 84. His beloved wife of nearly 62 years, Linda, was by his side.

Born in Jamaica Plain, Mass on Feb 18, 1942, he was the second son of John and Nora O’Connor. Jim graduated from Cathedral High School, served in the US Air Force from 1960-64 where he was stationed in North Africa, and received a BA in history from UConn. He and Linda moved to Central New York in 1971, where he was an air traffic controller and later a supervisor at Hancock International Airport for 30 years. While in that position, he hired the control tower’s first female controller and was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration’s “Eastern Region Facility of the Year” award in 1992. Following his retirement, he and Linda travelled extensively, including trips to Ireland, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, and Hilton Head (annually), and four cross-country drives to California. Two summers ago, they relocated to Delmar.

Known for his dry sense of humor, Jim was a lifelong Red Sox fan, lover of Maine, diehard drinker of coffee, reformed pipe smoker, inveterate walker, reader of first drafts, inventive and imaginative woodworker, fixer of whatever was broken, and champion of just about anything his wife and kids wanted to do.

The serious illnesses of the last five years did not define him, but only further demonstrated his strength and perseverance.

Jim is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Jenn O’Connor of Albany, NY, son Scott O’Connor and daughter-in-law Karen Anderson of Altadena, CA, grandson Oscar James O’Connor (Altadena) and granddaughter Rose Burke (NYC). He also leaves behind his sister Mary (who still contends she was the funnier one), brother-in-law George, and a host of nieces and nephews whom he was devoted to. He is predeceased by his parents, brother Jack, brother-in-law Steve, sister-in-law Marge, and in-laws Roland and Marion.

The family will receive visitors on Thursday, September 3 from 11 am to 12 pm at Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar followed by a memorial service at 12 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Capital Region branch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an initiative that Jim held close to his heart: https://ignite.stratuslive.com/uwgcr/get-involved/donate/dpil26