John O'Connor
When John O'Connor retired from teaching in 1999, his career in public education had spanned a period of thirty-three years, thirty of them in Branford. A graduate of Wilbur Cross High School, he pursued his higher education at Southern Connecticut State University with a B.S. in Education (1966), M.S. in psychological examining (1972), and a sixth-year certificate in school psychology (1976).
After three years teaching in West Haven, John moved to a sixth-grade position at the New Short Beach School in the pilot open-space, team-teaching program that was the model for what would become Francis Walsh Intermediate School. He later began the special education program at the junior high and intermediate schools, earning him the title "Emotionally Disturbed Teacher." From 1970 to 1974 he worked as a volunteer with Hall of Fame classmate Brian Lynch on the Branford Help Line, which led to the formation of the Branford Counseling Center. In 1974 he was appointed school psychologist for Grades K-8 (later changed to Grades 5-12); and, as the need for increased support services became apparent, in 1989 his responsibility was focused on BHS only, though his caseload certainly did not diminish.
John began his career as a swim coach in 1974 with the Branford Sting Rays. A year later he added coaching the BHS Boys' swim team, which he coached until 1993 (six state championships and four-time runner-up), and from 1978 to 1994 he also coached for the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club (four league championships). In 1980 John became the coach of the BHS girls' swim team which he continues to coach through the present; his teams have five state championships and is times runner-up to their credit. More than 170 of his swimmers have been named All-State, with thirteen having been named All-American and another twenty-eight having attained All-American Consideration status.
He was named Connecticut High School Swimming Coach of the Year in 1987, 1988, and 1994 and Regional Coach of the Year for the Northeastern United States in 1991, 1995, and 2000. A 1995 inductee into the Branford Sports Hall of Fame, John has been a member of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Executive Board for over two decades. He served as the organization's president and has been prominent in professional development initiatives and has been recognized by the organization and its national counterpart for excellence in coaching, service, and stellar professionalism.
Beyond the recognition and the honors, OC's true value to our youth lies in the concept he teaches: that the excellence achieved in the water can be and must be matched by the manner in which the students conduct their daily lives. The newsletter he sends his swimmers addresses not only swimming but also such matters as organizing time for schoolwork and avoidance of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. When a recent PSAT exam conflicted with the team's scheduled practice, he encouraged all to take the exam and then to head to the pool for another PSAT ("Practice Swimming After Test") during the public swim period. OC himself sums it up this way: "This year the girls' team won the state championship, but most important to me was that 91% of the team members made the honor roll during the swim season. For over thirty years I have felt honored that the town of Branford has allowed me to do something I love doing with the finest young adults anywhere."
In addition, John holds active membership in a number of professional organizations and chairs the Parish Council Adult Education Committee at St. Therese Church. He and his wife, Jean, have two married sons and a grandson.
After three years teaching in West Haven, John moved to a sixth-grade position at the New Short Beach School in the pilot open-space, team-teaching program that was the model for what would become Francis Walsh Intermediate School. He later began the special education program at the junior high and intermediate schools, earning him the title "Emotionally Disturbed Teacher." From 1970 to 1974 he worked as a volunteer with Hall of Fame classmate Brian Lynch on the Branford Help Line, which led to the formation of the Branford Counseling Center. In 1974 he was appointed school psychologist for Grades K-8 (later changed to Grades 5-12); and, as the need for increased support services became apparent, in 1989 his responsibility was focused on BHS only, though his caseload certainly did not diminish.
John began his career as a swim coach in 1974 with the Branford Sting Rays. A year later he added coaching the BHS Boys' swim team, which he coached until 1993 (six state championships and four-time runner-up), and from 1978 to 1994 he also coached for the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club (four league championships). In 1980 John became the coach of the BHS girls' swim team which he continues to coach through the present; his teams have five state championships and is times runner-up to their credit. More than 170 of his swimmers have been named All-State, with thirteen having been named All-American and another twenty-eight having attained All-American Consideration status.
He was named Connecticut High School Swimming Coach of the Year in 1987, 1988, and 1994 and Regional Coach of the Year for the Northeastern United States in 1991, 1995, and 2000. A 1995 inductee into the Branford Sports Hall of Fame, John has been a member of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Executive Board for over two decades. He served as the organization's president and has been prominent in professional development initiatives and has been recognized by the organization and its national counterpart for excellence in coaching, service, and stellar professionalism.
Beyond the recognition and the honors, OC's true value to our youth lies in the concept he teaches: that the excellence achieved in the water can be and must be matched by the manner in which the students conduct their daily lives. The newsletter he sends his swimmers addresses not only swimming but also such matters as organizing time for schoolwork and avoidance of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. When a recent PSAT exam conflicted with the team's scheduled practice, he encouraged all to take the exam and then to head to the pool for another PSAT ("Practice Swimming After Test") during the public swim period. OC himself sums it up this way: "This year the girls' team won the state championship, but most important to me was that 91% of the team members made the honor roll during the swim season. For over thirty years I have felt honored that the town of Branford has allowed me to do something I love doing with the finest young adults anywhere."
In addition, John holds active membership in a number of professional organizations and chairs the Parish Council Adult Education Committee at St. Therese Church. He and his wife, Jean, have two married sons and a grandson.