Founding Chancellor of The University of Notre Dame Australia, eminent member of the Western Australian legal profession and prominent figure in the AFL world, Terrence Edward O’Connor, passed away on Saturday 25 April at the age of 82.
Mr O’Connor dedicated some three decades of his life to building up Notre Dame University and played an essential part in the University’s development, serving as Chancellor from 1990 to 2004.
During this time, the University grew to boast a cohort of more than 5,000 students.
Terence Edward O’Connor was born in Perth on February 6, 1938.
Starting school in the southern town of Boyup Brook, Terry became a boarder at St Louis School Claremont from 1948 to 1956.
In 1957, he began legal studies at the University of Western Australia, becoming a partner at Stone James in 1964, working in commercial litigation and acting as an in-house counsel.
A high-risk surgery on cancer of the spine in his 30’s saw him re-learning to walk and run, ever encouraged by his wife, Annabel (nee Johnston) whom he married in 1966.
In 1986, he joined the Independent Bar as a Barrister and became QC in 1987.
He served as Chairman of WA’s Anti-Corruption Commission from 1993 to 2001.
He was awarded membership in the Order of Australia in 2006, “For services to the legal profession, higher education, health services and the community.”
Well known for his generosity, Mr O’Connor was key in funded Cambodian students at the International University in Phnom Penh, later visiting the students personally in 2016 during a trip celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary.
Two years later, on their return home from a trip to Ghana, Mr O’Connor and his wife Annabel arranged donations of books, kitchenware such as fridges, clothes, school supplies, bed linen and blankets to be shipped to orphanages.
Another chairmanship was with the St John of God Hospital board, in addition to his commercial connections which included Pacific Mutual, Armstrong Jones group and EBM Insurance Brokers.
In 2018, Notre Dame bestowed an Honorary Doctorate of Laws on the man who, as the then Vice-Chancellor Professor Celia Hammond stated, had been a promotor and fearless defender of Notre Dame when there was skepticism and hostility, both in church circles and the wider community, as to whether a Catholic university in Perth was necessary or justifiable.
He also led a group that amalgamated his alma mater, St Louis and Loreto convent to form John XXIII College.
Terry O’Connor passed away on 25 April in Bunbury aged 82 and is survived by wife Annabel, daughter Dimity, son Simon and five grandchildren.
A funeral mass was held on Friday 1 May in the Holy Spirit Chapel on Notre Dame’s Fremantle Campus, followed by a guard of honour along Croake Street.
Vice Chancellor Professor Francis Campbell, said Mr O’Connor was a man of strong faith and values who was dedicated to his family.
“The University extends its prayers and condolences to the O’Connor family, particularly his wife Annabel and children Dimity and Simon.
As a University community, we mourn Terry’s passing and will be forever grateful for his service, kindness and commitment as one of our founders.
May he rest in peace,” Professor Campbell said.
Source: The University of Notre Dame and The West Australian