William Edward O'Connell

Portsmouth, RI - William Edward OConnell, 93, of 45 Stagecoach Road, Portsmouth, RI, died Monday, September 4, 2006 at Grand Islander Health Care Center, Middletown, RI. He was the husband of Kathleen Mungiven OConnell. Born in New York, NY on August 19, 1913, he was the son of the late William and Ruth Stutey OConnell Jr.While very young William OConnell developed an interst in Forestry and it became his life work. Leaving City College of New York he took the Civil Service Test and joined the New York City Department of Parks, retiring 37 years later as Assistant Supervisor of Parks in Queens County New York. One of his first appointments was working with Robert Moses on the development of Jones Beach, and the Long Island Expressway clearing farm land. Joining the United States Navy he served three years until the end of WWII. In the 1960s when the Environmental movement became a great issue his work intensified. A CBS film crew followed him as he interacted with the public and enviornmentalsits for a TV special event. The New York Times also had, on two occasions, reporters covering the Dept. of Parks work he had authorized. In an interview with the New York Times on his retirement a reporter asked him what his favorite tree was. He laughed and said ?a small one?. He was active in both St. Michaels Church in Flushing New York and later at the Cathedral in Rockville Center where he lived for 25 years with his family. On retiring he moved to Portsmouth, RI with his family. His main interest in later years was the weather. He studied and forecasted it. Proud and happy with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, that was his great pleasure his family. Besides his wife he is survived by his children, William Robert OConnell of Hollywood, FL, Elizabeth Donegan of Middletown, RI, Carol Ann Prochner of Middletown, RI, and Daniel James O?Connell of Newport, RI, his grandchildren Susan LePage, Sean Donegan, Major Dennis Donegan, Timothy James Donegan, Kenneth Prochner and Nicholas Donegan, and his great grandchildren Jonnaysa Kirkham, Melanie LePage, Madison Donegan, Lily Doengan and Aiden Donegan and his sister Ruth Tischer in Flushing, NY. He was the brother of the late Robert OConnell and James O?Connell. His funeral will be held on Friday, September 8, 2006, at 10:30 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 am in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery in Pawtucket. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2006, from 4-8 in the funeral home.