Arthur Joseph O’Connor III MD

- Arthur Joseph O’Connor III MD, age 89, passed away peacefully in his Scottsdale home January 26, 2024 with his family by his side. He is preceded in death by his father Arthur Joseph O’Connor II MD, his mother Helen Alice Young O’Connor and his brother Charles Dewitt O’Connor.

Art was born in his grandmother’s home July 20, 1934 in Pittsburgh, PA. He grew up in Warren, PA with the exception of the six years his family lived with his grandparents in Pittsburgh. His father had been called to serve as a physician in the Army Medical Corp at Pearl Harbor immediately following the attack. He attended Warren High School and then moved to State College where he attended Penn State University graduating in 1956. He received his Doctorate of Medicine in 1961 from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. He remained in Philadelphia until completion of his internship and surgical residency at Presbyterian University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in 1966. Following graduation, he served for two years as a Major in the USAF at Bergstrom Air Force Base Austin, TX. He then completed an additional year of training in cardiothoracic surgery at New England Deaconess Hospital and the Lahey Clinic in Boston, MA. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Art spent two years in a group practice in McHenry, IL prior to moving to Arizona where the weather was a pleasant change from that in the East. He remained in private surgical practice in the Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa area until his retirement in 2012.

Dr. O’Connor’s surgical career demanded a considerable amount of his time, but he made sure he was available for family. He enjoyed sharing his appreciation for classical music, history, art, sports, pet dogs and his Catholic faith with family. He is survived by his grateful wife of 45 years Ellie (Eleanor) Marie Horan O’Connor, his brother Dr. Peter Richard O’Connor PsyD (Luz, niece Sophia), his children Arthur Joseph O’Connor IV (Kendra, granddaughters Maggie and Brynn), Timothy Andrew O’Connor (Marcie), Amy Kate O’Connor Wood (Merrill, granddaughter Andrea), Molly Margaret O’Connor Thacker (Larson, granddaughters Hannah and Sarah), and Colin Patrick O’Connor MD (Kristin), nieces Meaghan O’Connor and Kara O’Connor Yarbrough, former wife Kay Wiest O’Connor-Norton, and his grand-pups Tabor Rose, Marlow, Cinder and Eddie.

Art lived his life caring for others, especially his family whom he considered his greatest gift. He taught them and shared with them love, perseverance, compassion, respect and acceptance. He will live on within each of them.