Stephen Gardner O'Connell

05/08/2005

Stephen Gardner O'Connell, 81, of 136 Blythewood Drive, president of the former O'Connell Cadillac-Oldsmobile Inc., died yesterday at Berkshire Medical Center. Mr. O'Connell and his brother, the late William R. O'Connell, owned and operated the auto dealership, formerly located on the corner of West, Center and South Church streets, until 1974, when it was sold to Raymond J. Hellawell. The company, first known as Berkshire Auto Co., was established in 1916 on Union Street by the brothers' father, Ralph M. O'Connell, and Arthur C. Johnson. He was former president of R.M. O'Connell Oil Co., the former Berkshire Leasing Co. Inc. and the former Dalton Garage Inc., and former vice president of Berkshire Auto. Born in Pittsfield on Dec. 13, 1923, also the son of Helen Dunfrey O'Connell, he was a graduate of Pittsfield High School and attended Choate School and Babson College. During the 1950s and 1960s, Mr. O'Connell owned and operated Yellow Cab Co. and Yellow Coach Lines Inc. He also worked at one time for Liberty Realty. He was a corporator and then member of the board of directors of the former City Savings Bank and a longtime member of the board of directors of the Boys' and Girls' Club. He was a longtime member of the Alford Brook Club and a life member of the Green Mountain Horse Association. He competed in more than 88 100-mile trail rides with his horses. He was a former trustee of the Massachusetts chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and a former director of Massachusetts Blue Cross. He hosted United Cerebral Palsy telethons from his car dealership and was involved nationally with the telethons. He and his wife, the former Mary C. Makes, were married in December 1947. She died July 23, 2002. He leaves two sons, Thomas S. O'Connell and Ralph M. O'Connell, both of Pittsfield; two sisters, Ann Collins of Lee and Helen Simpson of West End, N.C.; three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Another son, Stephen T. O'Connell, died Jan. 10, 2001. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Steve will be lovingly missed by his three grandchildren, Ryan, Rebecca and Rachel O'Connell; his two great-grandchildren, Parker and Payton, and his daughter-in-law, Gracemary O'Connell. He was predeceased by his brother, William R. O'Connell, on Dec. 26, 2000. The funeral for Stephen G. O'Connell, 81, who died Sunday, May 8, 2005, will be Wednesday, May 11, at 9:15 from DERY FUNERAL HOME, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 at St. Charles' Church celebrated by the Rev. Peter A. Gregory, pastor. Burial will follow in Pittsfield Cemetery. Calling hours will be tomorrow from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Pittsfield Boys' and Girls' Club in care of the funeral home, 54 Bradford St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.

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Ad alot of good things going on. God bless you pops.your favorite son. R.M.
from: Sounds like the ole man had a lot alot	on: 02-17-2024