Robert Emmet O'Connor, 96, of Mount Pleasant, SC, passed away on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at home, surrounded by his loving family. Mr. O'Connor was born in Jersey City, NJ to William and Helen (McCabe) O'Connor. He proudly served his country during WWII in the US Army from 1945-1947. He received his BS in Health and Physical Education Panzer College (now Montclair State College) and Master of Arts from NYU. He was a resident of Berkeley Heights, NJ for 35 years before relocating to Mount Pleasant, SC for the past 26 years. Mr. O'Connor began his career in education at St. Cecilia's High School, Kearny, NJ from 1953-1955, then St. Aloysius High School, Jersey City NJ from 1956- 1962 and rounding out his career at Madison High School in Madison, NJ from 1963 -1992 as a Teacher and Coach. Over the years he taught and coached soccer, basketball, baseball and tennis. He is best remembered for his basketball teams at St. Al's. During his tenure there, his teams won 3 state championships and he was selected New Jersey High School Coach of the Year 3 times by the New York Daily News. He is a member of the Hudson County and New Jersey Coaches Halls of Fame.

His legacy is the influence he had on the young men he coached. He led by example; epitomizing class, dignity and grace under fire. Athletics were not just something he espoused and taught; it was how he lived. As a high schooler at Snyder High School, he set numerous swimming records and played basketball and soccer. In college, he excelled in basketball, soccer and tennis, winning the NJ Intercollegiate Conference tennis singles championship. Tennis continued to be a passion for the rest of his life. He played tennis and then pickle ball into his 90s. He and his wife/tennis partner even won an open city mixed doubles tournament in his 80s. He also swam numerous times each week as recently as last fall.

Mr. O'Connor is survived by his beloved wife and partner of 65 years, Carol (Maurer) O'Connor; his devoted children, Bob O'Connor of Bend, OR, Cathy Martin and her husband Mike of Mt. Pleasant SC, Paul O'Connor and his wife Venus of Boca Raton, FL, Clare Cook and her husband Chris of Springfield NJ and Kevin O'Connor and his wife Renee of Manhattan Beach CA; and his 9 cherished grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will take place at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC on July 29 at 11:00 am, with a gathering to follow at the church immediately afterward. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Benedict Catholic Church, 950 Darrell Creek Trail, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466, www.stbenedictparish.org