Posted on 05/14/2018
Dennis E.W. O'Connor Sr. father, son, grandfather, and loving husband of Mary Elizabeth Peden O'Connor passed away on April 12, 2018. He was 88 years old. O'Connor was born on January 25, 1930 and grew up in Kuli`ou`ou, Hawaii. He graduated from Punahou School in 1948, and went on to serve in the United States Navy after graduating from the Naval Academy in 1952. O'Connor graduated from the George Washington University School of Law in 1961. O'Connor was a senior partner at O'Connor Playdon Guben & Inouye. He was a retired Captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve, qualified to command submarines and destroyers, and received the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, UN Service Award, and Korean Service Award. O'Connor also served as a Hawai`i State Representative and Senator, a Councilman for the Honolulu City Council, and was a past Chair of the Democratic Party for the State of Hawai`i. He was a Fellow and past State Chair of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow with the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and was an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. O'Connor successfully defended the constitutionality of the Hawai`i Land Reform Act in the Hawai`i Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court and subsequently tried many lawsuits obtaining fee land for lessees in Hawai`i. O'Connor is survived by his wife of 60 years Mary Elizabeth, daughter Kathleen (John Lupo), sons Dennis Jr. (Louise), Whitney (Cherie) and Prosper, grandchildren Auli`i Dudoit (Travis), Kanoa and Nalu O'Connor, Ellie and Clare Lupo, Jon Gregory, and greatgrandchildren Paliku and Ruth Mahie. Also, brother Wm. Patrick, stepsister Delphine Cloe (Michael), and stepbrother Warren Vilmaire. Predeceased by brother John Kevin and stepbrother Michael Vilmaire. Services will be held on May 19, 2018 at 11: 00 a.m. at Mary, Star of the Sea Church. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make donations to Punahou School.
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