Brian Emmet O’Connor

August 7, 1948 - July 8, 2018

Brian Emmet O’Connor, the soul of our family, passed away suddenly but peacefully on July 8, 2018. Brian was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a thoughtful and considerate friend. A quiet man, Brian possessed an incisive intellect and a sharp tongue. When Brian spoke, everyone knew to quiet down and truly listen to what he had to say. His whole life, he put his family and his loved ones ahead of himself. He possessed a kindness, a sweetness and a generosity of spirit that are vanishingly rare in today’s age. He leaves behind a rich legacy that we, his loved ones, hope to be able to carry on in his absence.

Brian is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of 39 years, Kathy Lyons O’Connor; his sons, Matt and Danny O’Connor; his siblings Sister Maureen O’Connor, Don O’Connor (Mary) and Sheila Schweifler (John); his brother-in-law Jim Lyons (Nancy) and sistersin-law Mary Lyons and Linda O’Connor; many nieces and nephews; and family friends Roberta Head and Donna Allen. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Kathleen O’Connor and his brother Kevin O’Connor.

Brian was born August 7, 1948. He was a third-generation San Franciscan who grew up in the Richmond District. He attended St. Monica’s Grammar School, where he first met his future wife; Sacred Heart High School (class of 1967); and San Jose State University (class of 1972). Brian joined the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department in 1972 and proudly served for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2001. In 1999, Brian received the gold medal of valor from the Sheriff for disarming an armed suspect who was a threat to the public. He returned to the department from 2006 to 2013 as a part-time retiree.

Brian’s greatest love in life was his family and friends. An excellent cook, nothing made him happier than whipping up a filet mignon roast or a giant lasagna for a family holiday celebration. He was also a lover of life who enjoyed sharing a Maker’s Mark with a good friend or taking a cruise with Kathy and his large circle of friends. Although Brian left us far too soon, we all feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have had him in our lives.

Family and friends are invited to join us to celebrate Brian’s life at a memorial mass at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in San Francisco on Tuesday, July 17, at 11am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center or the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation.