Daniel J. O'Connor

With his family by his side, Dan O’Connor passed away on December 10 at the age of 71, after a long battle with dementia. Dan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the second of four children of John Thomas O’Connor and Mary Margaret Litteken. As a child, Dan moved with his family to Wichita Falls, TX, where he grew up honing his skills as a hunter and outdoorsman. After graduating from Rider HS in Wichita Falls, Dan earned a degree in Chemistry from St. Edward’s University in Austin, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. It was at UT that Dan’s best friend, Alan Stewart, introduced him to a fellow MBA student who became his wife, Cynthia Cooper. After working several years in Detroit, Michigan for Ford Motor Company, Cynthia and Dan returned to Texas, where they raised their family in San Antonio and Dan pursued his career in banking.

As a long-time member of St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church and a proud Eagle Scout, Dan lived his life guided by the tenets of his church and the Scout law. He was a loyal and trustworthy adviser to his clients during his 31 years working as a commercial real estate lender at the Frost Bank Dan had great rapport with his customers and enjoyed helping them bring to fruition a variety of projects, including Riverwalk hotels and East Side churches.

Dan was a kind and devoted husband and father, who enthusiastically shared his wide ranging interests, including, hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, bird watching, travel and music. He instilled his love of the outdoors and the mountains in his sons through many wonderful outings together in South Texas and Telluride, CO, and he and Cynthia enjoyed travel adventures to six continents as well as many hours at symphony and opera performances.

Dan was helpful to his community and friends, giving generously of his time and energy to good causes and many DIY projects. He was a long time member of the Alamo Kiwanis Club, where he served in many capacities including chairman of the Western Art Show. He was a Past President of the Alamo Heights School Foundation and a member of the Conopus Club, Lamplighters and the Town Club. Dan had an irrepressible wit, which earned him the nickname “Uncle Tease”, and was a kind and gentle spirit. His unfailing grace and good humor allowed him to be cheerful and brave in the face of debilitating illness, courteous to all he encountered, and steadfast in his faith.

Dan was predeceased by his parents and leaves behind his wife of 43 years, Cynthia, and his two sons Ryan O’Connor (Stephani) and Michael O’Connor (Anne) as well as two grandchildren who brought him great joy in his last years, Eleanor and Owen O’Connor. He is also survived by his brothers John T. O’Connor, Jr. (Karen) and Michael P. O’Connor (Kathye), his sister Janet M. Clark (Daniel), sister-in-law Kathleen C. Lake (Randall) and their son, Ethan, numerous O’Connor nieces, nephews, great- nieces and great-nephews as well as two godsons, Gage Liesman and Thomas Clark and his beloved “Chilean niece” Antonia.

The family is forever grateful to Dan’s devoted caregiver, Jackie Williams, for her loving attention and relentlessly positive attitude, and also wishes to thank the staffs of Arden Court Memory Care and St.Gabriel’s Hospice who cared for him in the last months of his life.

Pallbearers are Michael Bolner, James Berg, Charles Holshouser, Andrew Kerr, Richard Lange, Randy Liesman, Laird Loomis, Conrad Netting, Philip Norman, Timothy Turner, and Michael Venson.

A private service will be held on Dec. 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m with a private graveside ceremony to follow. Those who wish to attend services via live stream can do through the link below. A Celebration of Dan’s Life will be held at a later time when it is safe to gather.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the following charities or the charity of choice: Alamo Heights School Foundation, 7101 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209; Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities, 911 N. Main St, #B-4, San Antonio, TX, 78212; or the San Antonio Symphony, P. O. Box 658, San Antonio, TX 78293