Worcester Academy Remembers Trustee Brian A. O’Connell ’67

Worcester Academy alumnus and longtime secretary of the WA board of trustees Brian A. O’Connell ’67 is being remembered today as a loyal friend of the Academy and as a dedicated and iconic presence on the Hilltop for more than eight decades. Mr. O’Connell, a Worcester native and veteran educational administrator, died unexpectedly Oct. 18, ending a long career in public service as a member of the city of Worcester School Committee and as the acknowledged dean of Massachusetts elected school officials.

“Brian and his family embodied the true spirit of ‘Achieving the Honorable,’ our school motto,” Worcester Academy’s Board of Trustees President James Pietro ’81 said. “His long history and dedication to Worcester Academy were second to none. His passing is a great loss to our community.”

Worcester Academy Head of School Ron Cino echoed the sentiment.

“Brian was among the most selfless and generous people that I have ever met,” Mr. Cino said. “Anyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know him had a friend for life. That was certainly true for Worcester Academy, and that was true for the city of Worcester as well. As an alumnus, there were few who loved Worcester Academy so well as Brian did.”

A 1967 graduate of Worcester Academy, he grew up on the WA campus, where his father, legendary faculty member Andrew O’Connell, taught science.  Following graduation, Mr. O’Connell earned his B.A. in English, French, and history from the College of the Holy Cross. He earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1974. He went on to practice law in both Worcester and Boston.

Through the years, he has remained actively connected to Worcester Academy as a friend, supporter, and loyal alumnus.  A member of the Worcester Academy Board of Trustees, he was the board’s longstanding secretary and its longest serving member, having joined in 1976.

In May, Mr. O’Connell was inducted into the Worcester Academy Hall of Fame.

“There was no question about his being a ‘Hall of Famer,’” Mr. Cino said. “When we talk about “Achieving the Honorable,” Brian lived that in every aspect of his life. He was someone that everyone loved and knew well, and he was a beacon of loyalty and dedication to Worcester Academy and to the institutions and ideals most important to him. The Academy was honored to be among them.”

Reminiscing at his 50^thWA reunion in 2017, Mr. O’Connell said, “I devoted much of my time and energy to activities in the Worcester Public Schools, then at Worcester Academy, then at Holy Cross, and throughout that time, at St. John's Church of Worcester. Fifty years later, all remain important to me, and central to my life.”

Former Worcester Academy President of the Board of Trustees Henry Dormitzer ’88 was effusive in his praise and warm in his remembrance of Mr. O’Connell.

“Losing Brian is shocking, just shocking,” Mr. Dormitzer said. “What a kind and thoughtful person he was.

“I admired that he devoted much of his life to helping WA be a better place for students,” Mr. Dormitzer said. “His knowledge of our history was more than facts. He had insights into the personalities that shaped the school. He was also a thoughtful and positive voice in so many board challenges. Our whole community will miss him. I will miss him.”

David Forsberg ’65, Worcester Academy trustee and former board president, and local longtime local and regional political figure, expressed his own sadness at Mr. O’Connell’s passing.

“No one has personified the spirit of Worcester Academy more than Brian did,” said Mr. Forsberg. “He dedicated his talented life to education, especially to Worcester Academy. I am saddened beyond words, but also grateful that Brian touched so many young lives in such a profound way and he helped thousands of parents to raise their children.”

Mr. Cino said Brian O’Connell demonstrated both a desire and an ability to make the world a better place.

“Brian demonstrated the right way to treat others—with respect and appreciation—as well as the right way to live your values and make a positive difference in the world around you,” Mr. Cino said. “For that, and many other reasons he was loved and respected.”

Worcester Academy, founded in 1834, is a private co-ed day and boarding school for Middle School (grades 6 to 8) and for High School (grades 9 to 12, and postgraduates). Our urban setting, diverse community, and innovative curriculum provide each student with unique opportunities for self-discovery, academic achievement, and personal empowerment. Visit www.worcesteracademy.org

For more information, contact Neil Isakson, director of external communications, at 508-459-6918, or e-mail 
neil.isakson@worcesteracademy.org