Terence William O’Connor, of Pennington, died on Sept. 4.
An educator, he was born June 18, 1952, in Fort Bragg, N.C.
After a year at Miami University, Ohio, he spent 16 years at Indiana State University (ISU) and transferred to The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in 2002. A tenured professor and academic administrator at both, he served at various times as dean, School of Education (TCNJ) and assistant to the vice president for Academic Affairs (ISU). He considered the highlight of his administrative work as the time he spent as director, Center for Teaching and Learning at ISU.
He completed his secondary education at Blackrock College, Dublin, Ireland, and graduated in 1974 from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education. He earned a master’s degree and doctorate form the University of Virginia, while working as a graduate assistant. His educational focus was social foundations of education.
His dissertation, “The Social Dynamics of Indigenous Education,” evolved while doing research in Southern Thailand and his interest in indigenous education was fulfilled during collaboration with educators in Southern Brazil. Most recently he applied this expertise while teaching in TCNJ’s global studies program in Mallorca, Spain and Bolivia.
The son of the late Bernice Marie (Farrell) and Col. Joseph Francis O’Connor, he is survived by: Kathleen Elizabeth O’Connor, Joseph Cullen O’Connor, Carolyn Marie O’Connor and Michael Desmond, all of Pennington or Island Heights; brothers Robert E. O’Connor and J. Michael O’Connor; sisters Marie Hislop, Marian McEvilly and Catherine Sullivan; a cousin Timothy Farrell; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws; his former wife, Susan O’Connor; and a friend Colette Gosselin.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. James Roman Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Sept. 9.
Interment will be private.
Friends may call today (Monday) from 6-9 p.m. at the Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, Pennington Circle.
A repast for family and friends will follow mass in the hall at St. James.
Memorial donations may be made to John Kanzius, Cancer Research Foundation, 915 State St., Erie, Pa., 16501. To send a condolence, visit www.wilsonapple.com.

