Maurice D. Oconnell

Maurice Daniel OConnell, age 85, passed away Monday, April 20, 2015 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg. Maurice was born November 9, 1929 in Ticonderoga, NY to Maurice and Leila OConnell. He attended Pottersville, NY public schools and graduated Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH in 1946. Maurice received his undergraduate degree in 1950 from Williams College, in Williamstown, MA where he was co-captian of the lacrosse team and a 3rd team All American. He served in the Korean War as a U.S. Marine and attained the rank of Captain after being honorably discharged and transferring to the Marine Corp Reserves. He graduated from Cornell University Law School in 1956 and began practicing law that same year with the Toledo firm, Williams, Eversman & Black, the precursor to Robison, Curphey & OConnell where he was a partner from 1961 until retiring in 2013. He was chairman of the Toledo Bar Association Grievance Committee from 1971-1974 and he was awarded the Kelb Service Award in 1999 by the Toledo Bar Association. Maurice was a special hearing officer in conscientious objector cases with the U.S. Department of Justice. He served on the Ottawa Hills Board of Education as president from 1967-1969 and was a former trustee of the Toledo Society for the Handicapped, Woodlawn Cemetery, the Toledo Hearing and Speech Center, and the Easter Seals Society. Maurice dedicated his life to loving and providing for his family even in his retirement. Service to others and the importance of education defined his life. Maurice is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joan (Landers); sons, Mark M. and David L. (Katherine) OConnell; daughters, Ann M. (Edward) Toth, Leila K. OConnell, and Ellen (David) Stone; grandchildren, Benjamin, Peter and Emma OConnell; Caroline, Daniel and Robert OConnell; Katherine and Ellen Toth; Jesse and Philip Facey; and Gordon Stone. Family will receive friends on Friday from 4-6 pm at the Walker Funeral Home 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd). A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at St. Michaels in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4718 Brittany Rd., Toledo, OH 43615 where a reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Memorial contributions may be made to Phillips Exeter Academy, 20 Main St, Exeter, NH 03833 or to the Maurice and Leila OConnell Scholarship Fund at Williams College, 880 Main St, Williamstown, MA 01267. Online condolences may be shared at walkerfuneralhomes.com. The Walker Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements, 419.841.2422.