John C. O'Connor

Delmar, NY-John C. O’Connor entered Eternal Life Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The third son of eight children born to John and Rosemary O’Connor of Loudonville, NY, John was born on April 10, 1954. His mother was a volunteer librarian at the St. Pius X School, which was fortunate because John loved reading books, especially encyclopedias and the World Almanac. He would fully embrace a single volume of the World Book Encyclopedia, reading page after page, over and over again. From the World Almanac, he memorized all the call letters of all the radio stations in the United States, which he proudly wrote down on paper from time to time to share with everyone. John’s parents helped found what is now known as the Wildwood Programs and Wildwood School, starting with Camp Wildwood in Altamont, NY in the late 1960’s. Wildwood operates a school in Schenectady, NY, providing full-time day programs to developmentally disabled children and adolescents. Wildwood Programs operates residential group homes throughout the Capitol Region, providing housing and onsite staff support services in family-like settings in residential neighborhoods, as well as independent living apartments. Wildwood provides a loving and caring, educational and residential experience for adults living with a broad spectrum of disabilities and challenges, to assist their full integration into society and the workforce. This trend has also been a blessing to families raising challenged family members into adolescence and adulthood, providing respectful independence, as well as, in many instances, deinstitutionalizing disabled adults, enabling them to thrive in their communities. In 1982, John moved into the first Wildwood group home on Waverly Place in Schenectady, NY, moving to a newly established group home in Delmar, NY in 1986, where he resided for the rest of his life in a warm and welcoming house, staffed with dedicated, loving caregivers and nursing staff, too many to name. John had his own bedroom and formed fond attachments to his fellow Wildwood family members with whom he resided. He also attended the Center for Disability Services Dayhab Program in Delmar, where he spent many happy days, listening to music, reading, dining, and just hanging out with his Wildwood family members. John was a devoted fan of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, and Mitch Miller. Remaining true to the vinyl record format, he owned his own record player and studiously avoided cassette tapes and CD’s. He also enjoyed painting landscapes, skyscapes, and abstracts with watercolors, oils, and acrylics, participating in local art shows and displaying his artwork at local galleries. John approached each day with a sense of curiosity and wonderment, something which he encouraged in others. He had an incredible sense of humor and loved taking walks with his friends. He had a fascination for airplanes, flowers, natural disasters, rock ‘n roll music, jigsaw puzzles, and the afterlife. John always made the holidays special, especially Christmas. He loved Christmas music and was enchanted by Christmas trees, especially at night when the lights were on, fascinated by all the sparkling ornaments. John taught his family members a lot about what is important in life and will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. John is survived by his siblings Michael (Eileen); Patrick (Robin); Terence (Amy); Timothy (Kristin); James (Nancy), Elizabeth (Brian); sister-in-law Beth Anne; and 19 nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents John and Rosemary and his brother Bill. Finally, the family is very grateful for the tender, loving, professional and compassionate care of the doctors, nurses, and administrators at St. Peter’s Hospital I.C.U. and The Community Hospice at St. Peter’s Hospital, as well as the anointings and blessings from Father Walsh, and Father Tallman, all of whom helped allow John to sleep in heavenly peace. Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 19th at Saint Pius X Church in Loudonville from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wildwood Foundation at 1190 Troy Schenectady Road, Building 1, Latham, New York 12110, or https://wildwoodprograms.app.neoncrm.com/forms/online-donation. To leave a message for the family please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com

John C. O'Connor

April 10, 1954 - August 25, 2026