William L. O'Connor
Feb. 6, 1940-Feb. 23, 2006
Menlo Park, California
William L. O'Connor, 66, died on Feb. 23, 2006, from kidney failure in his Menlo Park home surrounded by his family. He was born on Feb. 6, 1940, in Fargo, N.D., and spent the first nine months of his life in three foster homes before being adopted by Eugene and Vera O'Connor.
At the age of five, his family moved to San Francisco and three years later, relocated to a suburb, Edina, of Minneapolis, Minn.
In 1960, he entered the U.S. Navy as a musician. He chose to study percussion at the U.S. Navy School of Music and later became an instructor there. He was selected to become a member of the Navy's elite U.S. Navy Band, a 140-member organization in Washington D.C. He was one of two Navy drummers who played muffled drums in the procession that moved President Kennedy's casket from the White House to the Capitol the day before the President's funeral, where he also played.
During his five years at Washington, he married and had two children before relocating to Santa Cruz, Calif. In 1970, he received his degree in business marketing from San Jose State University and continued as a full-time musician until 1979. He was then asked to join the San Francisco Symphony Pops and was a drummer for Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
His full-time music career ended when he chose to work for Pacific Bell, in their marketing department for 15 years. He developed friendships with co-workers who became a source of love and support during his long term battle with AIDS. He treasured the support he received from friends he met through Ellipse Peninsula AIDS Service. He is remembered for his humor and style, courage and passion, and way of helping others feel significant and needed.
He is survived by his mother, Vera O'Connor of Sun City, Ariz.; his partner of 26 years, Daniel Fowler of Menlo Park; daughter and son-in-law, Colleen and Ben Townend, and grandson, Spencer, of San Diego, Calif., son and daughter-in-law, Sean and Nina O'Connor of Menlo Park; and sister and brother-in-law, Kathie Spear and Don Lowe of Savannah, Ga.
Tags: veteran