Walter C. O'Connell Iii

Walter C. O'Connell III of Houston, Texas passed away on November 1, 2017 at the age of 64 after an extended illness. Walter (Skip, Wally or Radar - depending on when you met him!) was born in Ithaca, NY on June 23, 1953 to Mary Jean and Walter C. O'Connell, Jr. He attended Ithaca High School, graduated from Cornell University and received his MBA from UNC Chapel Hill. While at Cornell he was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity.

Following graduation from Cornell he worked for a time in banking in Ithaca, starting as a Repo Man. This brief career stint ended after one too many dog chases and he headed west to ski and work for a year before returning east for graduate school. With his MBA in Finance in hand, he headed to Texas where he spent the next 30 years in financial management positions in the oil and gas industry.

An avid sportsman, Walter played football, hockey, and lacrosse at IHS. He continued lacrosse at Cornell and played in hockey leagues wherever he lived. Skiing and golf were lifelong passions. When his sons, Patrick and Brendan, were old enough to walk he introduced them to hockey and lacrosse and spent many years traveling thousands of miles from Houston for "away games". Although he lived in Texas he always managed a few weeks each year with his family on the slopes.


Walter is survived by his son Patrick O'Connell, grandson Coltin O'Connell and his ex-wife and forever best friend, Melinda O'Connell of Houston, Texas; sisters Mary Catherine O'Connell of Dunedin, Florida, and Michelle (Steven) Chaffee of Van Etten, New York; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends too numerous to mention.
He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Julie, and his beloved son Brendan.

Walter loved his family, Ithaca, Ireland, Cornell University and the Houston Astros - in that order. Some of his fondest memories were of growing up in Ithaca with his large extended family of cousins and friends, and his personal and family connections to Ithaca and Cornell. Walter was a proud, handsome, brilliant, witty, complex and stubborn Irishman - much like the Walter O'Connell's who preceded him! His favorite vacation was spent visiting Ireland with his family.


Friends and family are invited to a luncheon in celebration of his life at the Country Club of Ithaca from 1:00 to 3:00 on Saturday, November 11, 2017.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.
Interment will be private at the family's convenience.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Country Club of Ithaca 189 Pleasant Grove Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850