Dennis Patrick O'Connor

March 17, 1943 - November 23, 2020

Dennis Patrick O’Connor of Austin, Texas passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 23, 2020. Dennis was born in the Washington Heights section of New York City on March 17, 1943 and attended Regis High School, Manhattan College (BSEE) and Florida Institute of Technology (MSEE). Following graduation from Manhattan, Dennis went to work for Grumman at Kennedy Space Center on the Lunar Module program and later on many projects in Calverton, NY including upgrades to the F-14. In 1992 Dennis transferred to Houston, TX on a project for NASA.  Upon the completion of the project, he retired from Grumman and began working for Boeing on the International Space Station Program, where he worked until his passing. Throughout his career Dennis greatly enjoyed every project he worked on. In his spare time, Dennis loved playing basketball with colleagues and friends, helping neighbors fix their cars, playing guitar and traveling with his wife and family. Dennis deeply loved his wife, children and his grandchildren who gave him untold measures of love and enjoyment. He likewise treasured his brother John and greatly enjoyed time spent with his dear friends.  Dennis is survived by his wife Mary, his brother John (Patsy), his children Ellen (Pierre) O’Connor Costa, Eileen, Suzanne (John) O’Connor Spagna and Eddie (Kasey) and his grandchildren Chloe and Sonny Spagna and Brodie and Leo O’Connor.  Dennis was a quiet and unassuming man who would do anything he could for anyone. In death as in life, he touched the hearts of many people.  A private service for his family will precede his cremation. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later time when it can be held without concern for the spread of COVID-19.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider a memorial donation to Browndog Farm Texas through browndogfarmtexas.org. Browndog Farm Texas is his daughter Eileen’s animal rescue and rehabilitation, a cause that was very dear to him.