Obituary of William F. O’Connell Q.C.

The death of William F. O’Connell Q.C. of Rothesay, NB, husband of the late Anne (MacKinnon) O’Connell, occurred on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born in Saint John, NB, he was a son of Margaret B. (Clawson)O'Connell and the late George F. O’Connell Q.C. Bill received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1973 with Honours and his Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1976, both from the University of New Brunswick. He was admitted to the New Brunswick Law Society in June 1976. He practised law in Saint John for 28 years with Cox and Palmer and its predecessor firms. He was a member of the Saint John Law Society, the New Brunswick Law Society and the Canadian Bar Association. He was a member of the American Trial Lawyer’s Association and the American Transport Lawyers’ Association. He practised litigation with a specialty in administrative law, transportation law and environmental law. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2003. Bill joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1969; received his commission in 1971, was promoted to Lieutenant(N) in 1973, Lieutenant Commander in 1980, to Canadian Forces Decoration in 1981 and the first clasp to his CD in November 1991. In October 1992, he was awarded the Canadian “125” Commemorative Medal. As a member of HMCS BRUNSWICKER, he had undertaken various divisional, operational and training taskings. He was BRUNSWICKER’s Operations Officer from 1979 to 1982, during that period of time, being responsible for the operations of BRUNSWICKER’s tender PB ADVERSUS in Bay of Fundy and Atlantic waters. He was BRUNSWICKER’s Executive Officer from 1982 to 1987 and commanded HMCS BRUNSWICKER from 1st September 1987 to 1st July 1991. On 1st July 1997, he was appointed Regional Coordinator for the Eastern Region of Canada’s Naval Reserve. He has represented Canada at NATO conferences of the Reserves held in Oberammergau, Germany and Rome, Italy. He was also part of a Canadian Forces Liaison Council sponsored visit to Canadian service men and women, serving in Bosnia in 1999. Bill was promoted to Commodore on 15th July 2000 and was appointed Comd NAVRES on the 1st August 2000. Survived by his mother, Margaret; brothers, Robert G. (Jo-Anne) of Grand Bay- Westfield, NB and James K. (Beth) of Millidgeville, NB; mother-in-law, Katherine MacKinnon; five nephews and nieces, Staysail Shedd, Katie and Tom O’Connell, Jennifer and William O’Connell. Predeceased by his father in 2001; wife, Anne in 2006; infant brother, John Michael in 1948 and infant sister, Patricia Margaret in 1947. Resting at Brenan’s Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506) 634-7424 with visiting on Wednesday from 7-9 pm and Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Funeral Service will be held from Brenan’s Chapel on Friday, November 9, 2007 at 11 am. Remembrances may be made to any charity of choice.