John “Jack” Joseph O’Connor, Jr.

John “Jack” Joseph O’Connor, Jr., age 79, passed away on March 9, 2023, after a heroic battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and resided on Staten Island and in Barnegat, N.J.

Mr. O’Connor joined the Amalgamated Bank in 1966. He held a variety of progressively responsible positions through the years and was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer in 1991. He served in that capacity for 14 years, retiring in 2004 after 38 years. After retirement, Mr. O’Connor maintained his relationship with Amalgamated Bank as Consultant to the President and CEO and continued to advise and serve organized labor at the international, state and local levels.

Mr. O’Connor served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S Essex and was honorably discharged in 1964. He attended Pace University and the American Institute of Banking. He served on the Executive Board of Directors of the Health Insurance Plan of New York, (HIP), and was the Director of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. He also served on the Central Labor Rehabilitation Council of the New York State AFL-CIO.

Mr. O’Connor was a Knight of St. Patrick, and a Centurion of the Military Archdiocese. He was a Community Mayor of New York and served on the advisory board of the St. Patrick’s Home for the Aged. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 4, and a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Mr. O’Connor was elected President of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee in 2001 and served in that capacity for decades.

In 2002, Mr. O’Connor was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

Mr. O’Connor was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Elks Lodge in Ocean County, NJ. He was a talented musician, playing the guitar, banjo and drums. He was a singer and dancer. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was an avid reader and writer.

John O’Connor is survived by his loving wife, Geraldine Petrella O’Connor, his two daughters, Christine O’Connor and Keri O’Connor Schirripa, his son-in-law Ben Schirripa, and his five grandchildren, Aidan, Elena, Keira, Isabella and Daniella.

Decoy, Art & Hunting Collectibles Show And Sale

GALLOWAY – It may be on April Fools’ Day, but this show is no joke. Join decoy carvers, collectors, wildlife & conservation enthusiasts, art lovers, and families who will be converging April 1 at the Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, Galloway, NJ for the 29th Annual NJ Decoy Collectors Association’s Decoy, Art & Hunting Collectibles Show & Sale. The show is routinely described as “the best old decoy show in the country.”

This one-day event, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers an opportunity for family fun, appraisals, food, raffles and a chance to meet some of the top carvers and collectors in the nation. There will be exhibitors showing everything from decoys, shorebirds and songbirds to wildlife artwork and photography. The price for some antique decoys can go into “the six figures,” but there will be something for every budget at the show.

Admission is $5. Children are free. Visitors to the show can meet the NJ Decoy Collectors Association’s “Carver of the Year 2023,” Ms. Nancee Jo Luciani of Toms River, NJ. and there will also be a “Show & Tell” seminar by renowned carver Bob White of Tullytown, PA at 1:30 p.m.

For more information about the event, please contact Clarence Fennimore (Co-Chairman) at 609-405-4376 Ducksnmore@ hotmail.com, John Shores (Co-Chairman) at 732-295-5869 cshores@hotmail.com or Al Barker (Art Chairman) at 609-298-7459.

For more information about NJDCA and membership, please contact NJDCA President Jaim Lloyd at 609-703-6143.