Preceded by William A. Collins Preceded by William A. Collins Spouse(s) Jean Vadas O'Connor Party Republican Party | Succeeded by William A. Collins Succeeded by John Atkin Education Fairfield University | |
Born October 9, 1927
Norwalk, Connecticut ( 1927-10-09 ) Political party Republican and Conservative Party Died 16 January 2001, Norwalk, Connecticut, United States Previous office Mayor of Norwalk (1981–1983) Residence Norwalk, Connecticut, United States | ||
Thomas C. O'Connor (October 9, 1927 – January 16, 2001) was a one term Republican mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut from 1981 to 1983. He had previously served a term in the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 140th District. He was a junior high school history teacher in the Norwalk public schools for 35 years.
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Early life and family
He was the son of Dorothy Page O'Connor of Norwalk. O'Connor attended St. Mary School, Center Junior High School, and Norwalk High School where he played football. He was a graduate of Fairfield University in its first graduating class. He served two tours of duty with the U. S. Navy Air Force, first in World War II and then in the Korean War. He was a history teacher in the junior high school and middle school levels in the Norwalk school system for more than thirty-five years, and also worked nights and weekends for many years as a new car salesperson in Norwalk.
Political career
O' Connor served as a member of the Norwalk Common Council. In 1974, he was defeated in his race for the seat representing the 140th district in the Connecticut House of Representatives to Democrat William Collins. When Collins resigned his house seat in 1977 to take office as mayor, O'Connor won the seat in a special election over Democrat Alberta Hawkins and took office on February 2, 1978. He served on the Committees on General Law and Public Personnel and Military Affairs. O'Connor was a candidate for mayor in 1979, but lost to Collins. On November 3, 1981 O'Connor was elected mayor, defeating the incumbent Collins and Independent Henry F. B. Higgins. He took office in 1982.
Post mayoral activity
O'Connor was a major force in resurrecting a World War II Honor Roll in Norwalk, and bringing it up to date four decades after it had been dismantled, and in revitalizing a memorial to a Vietnam War of Honor recipients in the city of Norwalk. In 1988, the Honor Roll of veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam was completed. It lists the names of 6,687 World War II members, 340 from Korea and 429 from Vietnam.