Robert John O’Connor

Robert (Bob) John O’Connor passed away July 19, 2025 at the age of 73. Born and raised in the town of Ionia, Michigan, to John and Mary O’Connor, he touched the lives of many with his gentle nature, exceptional gift of never letting a pun go by without his own comeback, and his wonderful singing voice.

Bob graduated from Western Michigan University with a BA in Music and Communications and went on to finish a Masters in Counseling and Human Resources. While at Western, he auditioned for and joined the Varsity Vagabonds, a group of collegiate singers and instrumentalists who performed around Michigan and on a USO tour in the Caribbean. It was with this group where he met his future wife, Cynthia (Cindi) Sheridan, however, ten years would pass before they reconnected in Kalamazoo.

Embarking on his first career as a counselor, he worked in Kalamazoo for Goodwill and Kalamazoo County Mental Health Services. During this time, he spotted Cindi through the window working at Koopsen’s on the Kalamazoo Mall during his lunch hour. They were married a year later.

A job offer for Cindi in the Grand Rapids area, led to a move for both, and they became active in the community. Two years into the move, their family grew with the arrival of a long awaited son, Michael Ross.

Bob’s love of music had continued in Kalamazoo with the Kalamazoo Male Chorus and he soon joined the Schubert Male Chorus in Grand Rapids. He and Cindi also enjoyed singing with St. Andrews and St. Alphonsus choirs.

After some counseling work, Bob, who was an avid reader, launched his second career, taking a position with River City Books, an independent bookstore in Grand Rapids. When River City Books closed, Bob was hired to help open the new Barnes and Noble bookstore at Rivertown Crossings Mall. He enjoyed fifteen years of work there and retired in 2012.

For the next thirteen years, Bob and Cindi were able to travel throughout the U.S., Canada and to Europe and the U.K. They met many wonderful friends along the way and enjoyed trips with Michael, as well as the O’Connor and Sheridan families. Seldom missing a Detroit Tigers game, Bob also loved living near the Whitecaps stadium so he could stay up on the new talent coming up.

Bob was pre-deceased by his parents, John and Mary O’Connor, his sister JoEllen, his aunt Honora and uncle Rex O’Connor. He is survived by his wife, Cindi, son Michael, sisters Carol, Jean (Paul), brother Tom (Carol), sister in law, Patti McCray, nieces, Suzy Riccio (Emilio), Kristi Koenig (Jeff), Laura Boillot (Paul), nephews, Kevin and Tim O’Connor, Jeffrey McCray (Kelley) and his beloved grand nephews and nieces, Nate, Trent, Reece, Kaleigh, Cora, Andrea, Elowyn and Fallon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s name to St. Alphonsus Parish, 224 Carrier St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 and Blue Lake Public Radio at bluelake.charityproud.org.

A Mass for Bob will be held on July 30, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Parish, 224 Carrier, Grand Rapids with visitation for 1 hour prior to the Mass. A luncheon will follow.