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O'Connor, Tom

In Loving Memory

O’Connor, Thomas “Tom” Patrick

January 24, 1943 - December 14, 2023

Thomas Patrick O’Connor, 80, passed away Thursday, December 14, 2023, after a long illness.

Beloved husband of Diane (Daugherty) O’Connor; cherished son of the late Cain and Julia O’Connor; proud father of Ryan (Barb) O’Connor, Kevin (Tess) O’Connor, and the late Kenneth O’Connor; loving grandfather of Griffin O’Connor, Cullen O’Connor, Quinn O’Connor, Ciaran O’Connor, Lena O’Connor, and Aidan Gansner; dear brother of Cain (Gayla) O’Connor, Daniel O’Connor, Catherine Koch, Margaret Shackelford, Theresa King, the late Sheila Britton, and the late Mary Miller.

Tom loved to gather with everyone in his “O’Connor Clan”, especially when he visited the birthplace of his parents, County Kerry.  His beautiful tenor voice, heard in many pubs throughout the States and Ireland, is legendary.

From 1962 to 1966 Tom proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps and saw combat in Vietnam.  For the rest of his life, he lived by the Marine Corps values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.

In 1966 began his law enforcement career in the Ladue Police Department.  In 1968 he joined the Metropolitan St. Louis Police Department, and in 1980 he joined the Illinois Department of Criminal Investigation.  In 1985 he returned to Missouri to serve the Maryland Heights Department where he ultimately served as Chief of Police until his retirement in 2012.  Throughout his career Tom earned recognition for expertise in criminal investigation and taught courses to police agencies throughout the country.

Immediately after retirement, he volunteered to honor his brothers in the military by becoming a member of the Honor Guard at the Jefferson National Military Cemetery.  After serving over 650 funerals, health reasons forced him to retire.

He is cherished by his family, respected in the law enforcement community, and to his beloved Marine Corps he is proclaiming from Heaven, “Semper Fi”.

Funeral from Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Rd. on Wednesday, December 20, 9:15 a.m. to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd. for a 10:00 a.m. Mass.  Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.  Visitation Tuesday 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.

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14 thoughts on “O’Connor, Thomas “Tom” Patrick”

  1. So, so sorry, Pat. I know you were very close to your mom but she’s at peace now with your dad. Sending hugs and saying prayers 🩷

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  2. I KNEW TOM FROM THE DAYS WE GREW UP IN WELLSTON

    A GREAT GUY A GREAT MARINE AND A PROUD IRISHMAN

    TOM WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED BY ALL IN MY FAMILY

    JOE GOULD

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  3. It was my pleasure and my honor to work with Chief O’Connor. I never got that whoopin from here to Hodiamont. Rest in peace my friend.

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  4. An impressive man made up of all the characteristics that constitute honor. Love of family, country, rule of law, wife, children grandchildren and so on. He lived in his Irish culture making the Emerald Isle family proud. If he respected you, you deserved it. And that was an honor in and of itself. His loyalty was admirable. His humor sardonic. RIP Uncle Tom. You’ve earned it.

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  5. I met Tom in 1974 when I was going through the academy and he was an instructor. We were both Marine Corps Veterans and we shared the same values and code of honor. Tom was a great leader and roll model for many young officers. My deepest condolences to his family.

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  6. Knew Tom in Kindergarten and through grade school. Served Mass with him. He was a prankster in school, to the point of exiting the classroom through the back window. Semper Fi, Marine.

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  7. Diane, Ryan, and Kevin my heart breaks for you all. It’s Bill Baker’s daughter Nikki, and I think of you all as family, just like my Dad. I still cherish all the memories of Tom stopping by right as dinner was ready and just knowing he was there made me feel better. The world has lost an amazing man and I am so very grateful to have known him. I love you guys and I’m so sorry for your loss.

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  8. I first met Tom at Junior college when we took a class together. He frist though I was being a smart ass when I said I wanted to be a Wellston cop, later he understood. I worked, and visited with his father and know how proud Cain was of him and his accomplishment. He was a fine and considerate man and one hell of a cop.

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  9. Diane,Ryan,Kevin and all the O Connor families.I was so sorry to hear about Tom passing.Many great memories of his visit to our house.we had great fun .What a man.Heartbroken😖😖.No more goat stew..Rest in peace my wonderful cousin Tom.🍀🍀

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  10. I met Tom when I was a reporter for the Post-Dispatch and he was a super cop on several major crime stories. I had the honor of featuring Tom’s great work on the Karla Brown murder case in the book Don Weber and I wrote on the case titled SILENT WITNESS. I was proud to know Tom and always impressed by his expertise, his integrity and his courage.

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  11. Tom was a great cop, great guy, and great interrogator. In 1982 we chose him to be the main interrogator for the elusive killer of Karla Brown. Along the way he told me about his adventures on the Bomb Squad in St. Louis. He was a good cop but never lost his sense of humor. Jesus be with you Tom.

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  12. My name is Wayne Pinnon in 1969 I was
    Assigned to the mobile reserve division of
    St. Louis Police dept. where I met Tom and
    Partnered with him for 2 yrs. The highlight of
    That time was when we met ELVIS in 1970
    Tom was a good man and a good police
    Officer.

    Reply

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