Obituary of James Michael O'Connor

Lieutenant Colonel James Michael O’Connor

U.S. Army (Retired)

1938 – 2026

With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Lieutenant Colonel James Michael O'Connor, U.S. Army (Retired), on April 16, 2026, at the age of 87.

Born in New York City in 1938 to James and Mary (née O'Sullivan) O'Connor, James received his early education at PS 122 in Astoria, Queens, before attending Brooklyn Technical High School.

After high school, he volunteered for the Army, serving three years as a paratrooper-qualified heavy weapons infantryman (including a year in Germany) before being selected for the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. He graduated from West Point in 1963 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery, going on to earn the prestigious Ranger Tab and serving with the 1st Battalion, 321st Field Artillery in the 82nd Airborne Division.

It was at West Point that he met his "Earth Angel", Carolyn Petrik. Shortly after graduation, they were married at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Boonton, New Jersey, beginning a partnership that would span six decades. In their years together, they often expressed to one another a simple and enduring phrase of devotion: "All my love, forever."

In 1966 he transitioned to Military Intelligence, the branch in which he would spend the remainder of his career. He served two combat tours in Vietnam —first as a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group (1966-1967) and later as an intelligence officer on the G-2 staff of the 101st Airborne Division (1969-1970). His subsequent assignments included the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., VII Corps in Germany, the U.S. Army Forces Command Intelligence Center, and a final tour at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and earned an MBA from George Washington University in 1974.

Throughout his career, he and Carolyn moved their growing family through numerous military postings in the United States and abroad. His distinguished service culminated in senior intelligence assignments at the Defense Intelligence Agency and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, from which he retired with honor in 1983 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Following retirement from active duty, he continued his service to the nation as a government contractor. Together with Carolyn, he built a successful second career in business and real estate investment. The couple later co-owned O'Connor's Dollhouse Restaurant in Freehold, New Jersey, a well-regarded local establishment they operated for ten years.

James was an avid racquetball player, a lifelong fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and had a fondness for German model trains. He also always appreciated a good Coney Island style hot dog.

In retirement, James and Carolyn divided their time between Ocean Grove, New Jersey, and Miami Beach, Florida. Their greatest joy was their family, and they devoted themselves fully to their eight children and twenty-four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary; his beloved wife of sixty years, Carolyn; and his brother-in-law, Kenneth Petrik. He is survived by his eight children and twenty-four grandchildren:

      James (Annette and children: James, Ryan, Sean, Katherine, Kevin)

      Mary (Jose Fernandes and children: Daniel, Caroline, James)

      Kenneth (Tina and children: Kenneth, Colleen, Thomas)

      Kevin (Christine and children: Kyle, Kristin, Carolyn, Katelyn)

      Timothy (Christelle and children: Christopher, Michael, Mary)

      Caroline (Derek Borgert and children: Jonathan, James)

      Maureen (Sean Duffy and children: McKayla, Molly, Maeve, Mary)

      Margaret (Christopher Owens)

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on April 24 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Boonton, New Jersey—the same church where James and Carolyn were married more than sixty years earlier. He was laid to rest with full military honors at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Boonton.

His family takes comfort in cherished memories of a life marked by service, discipline, integrity, and devotion. James set a high bar for those who follow. May his family strive to live up to his example.