Roderic L. O'Connor

Roderic Lenane O’Connor, 69, of Fountain Hills, passed away peacefully at his home with family at his side on June 26, 2014.

Rod was born in Hendersonville, N.C. on April 10, 1945. He was the youngest of four children who traveled around the world with his mother, Muriel, and his father, Ret. Brig. General William O’Connor, who was stationed in Europe, Central America and the United States.

The family finally settled in Arizona and Rod finished grade school at St. Patrick’s in Bisbee, and attend Buena High School in Sierra Vista.

Rod joined the Army in 1965 and served with the 46th Special Forces Company in Vietnam and Thailand. Rod fine-tuned his culinary skills over time and worked as a chef in several of the Valley’s resorts. He also worked in restaurant management, owned his own catering company for a while, and finally retired in Fountain Hills where he still worked part time at Fountain Hills Middle School and High School in the cafeteria.

Rod is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Julie; three children, Roderic Jr. of Chandler, Mortimer (Clarise) of Phoenix, and Tina Hasselberger (Jeff) of Rosemont, Ill.; and his three granddaughters, Whitney, Kamie and Cassidy. He is also survived by his sister, Terrance of Wyoming, his brother, Kevin of Pennsylvania, many nieces and nephews, and close friends.

Rod has touched many lives with love and humor and created many unforgettable memories. We salute you!

Services will be held at Messinger Mortuary in Fountain Hills on Tuesday, July 1, at 7 p.m.