Evening star., 1946-09-28
O'Connor

sciousness. Mrs. O'Connor summoned
DR.. Charles w. Ordman, 5000 Ca
thedral avenue. DR.. Ordman said
Mr.. O'Connor died of a heart at
tack.
Mr.. O'Connor appeared in excel
lent spirits last night at the dinner
which opened the Group Hospitali-
zation meeting, according to F. p
Rawlings, jr., general manager. He
sat in on his last dinner as trustee
Of an important welfare group in
keeping with lifetime of unselfish
community service.
Surviving are his widow, a son
George H., jr., who recently was dis
charged from the Navy and now
is attending Georgetown University
Law School; a daughter, Helen
Louise, and a brother, DR.. Charles
E. O'Connor of Washington.
Mr.. O'Connor, native of Wash
ington, was born August 20, 1874, son
Of the late Capt. Patrick E. O'Con-
nor and Ellen Mccarthy O'Connor
He was educated at Gonzaga High
School, st. Johns Military Academy
at Alexandria, Va; Georgetown,
University, and National University
Law School.
An Able Business Man.
Mr.. O'Connor was in constant
demand for dinners and entertain
ments in Washington and this de-
mand stretched over so many years
that he had become a beloved fix
ture in the Capital. He was a ma
tural-born comedian. But he was
also an able and astute business man
and when he was elected some years
ago to head the combination OF
three title companies, a position OF
real distinction in the business life
Of the city-he visited some Of his
friends in newspaper offices and
asked very earnestly that the two
roles-that of top executive of a
financial institution and that of vol
unteer entertainer at countless
gatherings-not be confused.
The respect that his friends held
for him as man of real dignity
and ability in business affairs gave
him added prestige as an entertain
er. He took the part of a clown. But
1t was only to amuse others in doing
what he himself loved to do.
Entertained at Vinson Dinner.
His last appearance as an enter
tainer was on Thursday evening at
an exclusive dinner given in honor
of Chief Justice Vinson by COL
leagues of the Washington bench
and bar at the Mayflower Hotel.
And it was characteristic of Mr..
.O'Connor's position in Washington
life that while he was the clown and
entertainer at this dinner for the
Chief Justice, the night before he
had been a fellow guest with the
Chief Justice at very small and
intimate dinner party. When he
took the part of entertainer he was
the Intimate friend of most of those
whom he entertained.
One of his great friends among
the Presidents was William Howard
Taft. A song that Mr.. O'Connor
sang in those days was "Taint No
Disgrace to Run When You Are
Skeered" and because he sang it 50
often-for 1t amused Mr.. Taft-it
became as much in vogue as his IA
nous later song, "Saloon!", which
he picked up somewhere SHORTLY
after prohibition. Mr.. Taft thought
SO much of Mr.. O'Connor that he
called on him at Providence Hospital
to sit at his beside when Mr.. O'Con-
nor was confined there by illness
some years'ago.
Joked With Coolidge.
An anecdote that Mr.. O'Connor
used to tell about President Coolidge
related to his presence at an evening
entertainment Of the Massachusetts
State Society. Mr.. Coolidge, stand
ing with frozen face shaking hands
with the members and guests who
filed past him, looked up with in
terest when he saw Mr.. O'Connor
approaching.
"O'Connor,' said Mr.. Coolidge
How come you from MasSachu-
setts?"
I'm not from Massachusetts," re-
piled Mr.. O'Connor. I'm sick. That's
what makes me look that way"
Mr.. Coolidge, Vermonter, broke
into one of his rare laughs and the
response seemed to amuse him SO