John Francis O’Connell, 82, of Thorp Mountain Way in Newport, NH, died Saturday morning, September 6, 2008 at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

He was born in Manchester, CT on September 1, 1926 the son of John J. and Catherine (McNelis) O’Connell and had resided in Newport many years.  He received his Masters Degree in Education and was a veteran of World War II having served in the US Marines.

Mr. O’Connell taught Drivers Education and business subjects at the Newport High School for twenty years and retired in 1991.   He moved to Ocala, FL in 1991 and worked at the Monroe Regional Medical Center where he drove the shuttle bus and was a greeter for ten years.  He returned to Newport in 2001 and worked at Wal Mart as a greeter.

He was a member of the Croydon Flat Congregational Church and sang in the choir and formerly played in the bell choir.  He also sang in the Hartford Choral in Hartford, CT in the 60’s.  He was a former member of the Rotary Club of Newport and enjoyed playing senior softball.

John enjoyed traveling, sailing, spending time at the ocean, reading, history, being with his family, his friends and his pets.

The surviving family includes his wife, Priscilla “Penny” (Warburton) O’Connell of Newport whom he married on August 17, 1990;  two daughters, Kathleen Ann O’Connell Young of S. Windsor, CT and Claire O’Connell Guerin and her husband, Richard of Auburn, NH; one step-daughter, Gail T. Cartier and her husband Kirk of Newport; one step-son, Skip Thorp and his wife, Cindy of Newport; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and several cousins, including Jack McNelis of Philadelphia, PA.

Friends may call at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street, Claremont, NH on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 PM.

A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday afternoon, September 10^th at Two O’clock in the Croydon Flat Congregational Church with Donna Leslie, Pastor, officiating.

Interment will follow in the North Newport Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Croydon Flat Congregational Church, 29 Croydon Turnpike, Croydon Flat, NH 03773.