David O’Connor (SPC 1955-57)

We were saddened to hear of the passing of David O’Connor (SPC 1955-57) who passed away on 28 September 2024.

We thank good friend Brian Dillon (SPC 1954-57, PY1958) for preparing this tribute.

“David, along with his brother Garry, attended St Patrick’s College from the mid 1950’s for his senior school years. His father, Alex was principal at Ballarat East High School and, as such David was automatically placed in one of the three categories of students – by the students – namely: the boarders; the bus boys and the day rats – David was grouped as the latter.

In 1956 & 1957, David was a Prefect and he undertook two years of Matriculation which was fairly common practise then as the second year enabled the students to ‘mature’ in age as well as expand academic studies and to increase a deeper understanding of core subjects – (in his case, the sciences) with the aim of gaining a Commonwealth scholarship to pursue at tertiary level. As well as being a Prefect, David was also a member of the Solidarity of Our Lady and played in the Second XVIII and Galvin House premiers in football. He was also a valued member of the Athletics team.

David was an engaging personality and he had a wry sense of humour and was a good storyteller and he loved to relate how George – later George Cardinal Pell – challenged him for his position in the relay team and they had a run-off where George was successful. David’s account of that race yard by yard could take five minutes to tell and was very funny. But cricket was his main sporting passion and he played in the First XI winning the Khyat Cup for batting in 1956 and the fielding prize in 1957 when he was vice-captain of the team. In later years he played cricket with a contemporary from St Pat’s, Tony Joyce in the eastern suburbs competition playing for the St Kevin’s Old Boys and Tony relates that he was – “…a patient, capable and highly regarded opening batsman…”.  During and after his cricket playing days, David had a regular day set aside for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG which he enjoyed with friends and family.

Professionally on leaving school David joined the Department of Supply but after a couple of years moved into the new and emerging field of computers when he joined Data Control and had several overseas postings with them. I recall a conversation with him back in those early days and my question was – David, how does the computer actually work? His reply lives with me yet – “It is a binary system where the two numbers are zero and one”, thereafter my eyes glazed over. Thankfully for its many Control Data customers, David knew what it all meant and that was the main point.  

David is survived by his children Anthony and Anne and four grandchildren and by his wife Lorrie Read.

Vale David O’Connor.”