Polly Mary Ennis Lombardi O’Connor

October 26, 1941 - September 2, 2022

Polly Mary Ennis Lombardi O’Connor passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 2, 2022.

Polly was born October 26, 1941 in San Francisco to Oliver Maurice Lombardi and Mary Nickel Lombardi James. She was the oldest of four children. Her siblings are Peter Oliver Lombardi, Lisa McNear Lombardi and Gay Lombardi Columbel.

Polly is a descendant from two California families influential in education, science and discovery.

Her paternal great grandfather, Cesar Lombardi, encouraged the development of Rice University in Texas. Her grandfather, Maurice Lombardi of Berkeley and Ross, was the geologist who discovered the rich oil reserves in the Middle East.

Polly’s maternal great great grandfather was Henry Miller of Miller & Lux. The German immigrant had the foresight and the fortitude to develop the Central Valley into a rich agricultural region. He was instrumental in providing for a burgeoning California population that was quickly transitioning from dependence on a gold mining economy into a West Coast financial and manufacturing hub.

Polly and her husband, Richard O’Connor, moved from San Francisco to Pinehurst and then Southern Pines, North Carolina to be closer to her family. Her grace and generosity, well known in San Francisco, eased the cross-country move as she easily became a cherished member of her community.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver Lombardi and Mary Nickel James, her husband, Richard O’Connor, and her sister, Lisa Lombardi.

She is survived by her daughter, Gay Camille Sprague, her brother, Peter Lombardi, and her sister, Gay Columbel. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jeffrey Sprague, Cassandra Sprague-Siciliano, Trent Sprague and Rose Turley and eight greatgrandchildren. as well as many adoring nieces and nephews.