Patrick O'Connor

Patrick Thomas O'Connor, age 57, formerly of New Hampton, Iowa died on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017. Pat was born on August 16, 1959, to Jim and Geri O’Connor of New Hampton. He graduated from New Hampton High School in 1977, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1982 only because he wanted an extra year of college track eligibility. He loved track and field events and his mentors and coaches, especially Jerry Rochford of New Hampton and Les Stevens of Central Missouri State. While he was at Iowa, he dedicated himself to an athletic career as a shot putter and discus thrower and held the Big Ten indoor shot put record. After he graduated, Pat went on to coach track and field at colleges throughout the United States, including Florida State University, the University of Colorado in Boulder and Columbia University in New York City. He coached track in Taipei, Taiwan, for their national team and lived there for a year. In his later years, he worked as a foreman and superintendent for construction companies in the Kansas City area and as a property claims adjuster. He held degrees in kinesiology (MA) and construction management. His careers gave him the opportunity to travel, to live and work in 46 different states. He continued his love of track and field and prior to his death was the sixth ranked masters shot putter in the world in his age group. Pat will always be remembered as kind, funny and gregarious. He knew no strangers and loved his trips to New Hampton. Pat is survived by his wife Amy O'Connor and his children Katrina and Alec O'Connor of Kansas City, Mo.; brother Michael O'Connor (wife Victoria) and nephew Michael O'Connor of San Antonio. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jeri O'Connor (2001), his father James F. O'Connor (2012) and his maternal and paternal grandparents, Allie Hager and Chester and Lena O'Connor.