Rev. O'Connor, owner of top pacer Caramore dies

Rev. Thomas J. O’Connor, who bred and raised many Standardbreds, including stakes winner Caramore, died Wednesday at home in Freehold Township, NJ. He was 78.

Among the more than 80 horses he owned and bred was Caramore–Irish for big friend–who raced from 1980 to 1988, earning $1,129,411 with 55 wins, 34 seconds and 21 thirds from 199 starts. The son of Jolly Roger–JM Dorothy captured the 1981 New Jersey Classic.

Caramore was named New Jersey Standardbred of the Year in 1981.

Father O'Connor, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, Freehold Township, the fifth child of Thomas and Nora O'Connor, was born Jan. 12, 1930 at home in Moulagow, Rathmore, County Kerry, Ireland. His father died before the end of the year. Young Thomas went to the local school in Shrone, Rathmore. In 1942, he went to Tralee to be taught by the Irish Christian Brothers. Later, he went to the Minor Seminary in Killarney. At age 18, he went to the Major Seminary, All Hallows in Dublin. He finished philosophy with the Trappists Monks at Mount Mellary, County Waterford.

He came to the U.S. in 1952 and has been a Monmouth County resident for over 45 years. Fr. O'Connor studied theology at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, MD. He was ordained June 4, 1955 in Trenton. His first assignment was St. Francis Catholic Church, Metuchen, where he served for five years. While he was there, with Fr. Foley, the parish added to the school building, built a new CYO Hall, built a new Rectory and the Cathedral of Metuchen Diocese.

Fr. O'Connor was assigned as Associate to Star of the Sea in Long Branch, where he also served for five years. While he was there, he was Chaplain to Monmouth College and had the responsibility for visiting the patients at Monmouth Medical Center. In 1970, he was assigned as Chaplain to the former State Psychiatric Hospital at Marlboro and to Collier Services, a social service agency, at Wickatunk - run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

In 1988, he received his present assignment at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, Freehold Township. While there, he oversaw the construction of a classroom wing and the new church. A true shepherd, Fr. O'Connor will be remembered for his ecumenical spirit and his tireless work on behalf of so many. Through the years, Fr. O'Connor has been active in many sports - handball, hurling, Irish football and golf.

In 2000, Fr. O'Connor received the Order of St. Brendan Award from the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore.

He was predeceased by a brother, Johnny, and a sister, Noreen. He is survived by a brother, Canon Michael O'Connor of Moulagow, Rathmore, County Kerry, Ireland; a sister, Eileen Maguire, barrister at law, of Dublin, Ireland; and 12 nieces and nephews, Marie Torrens, Michael Maguire, Barbara Maguire, Muriel Pillay, Kevin Maguire, Pamela Sensi, Iseult Creighton, Andrew Maguire, Una Gallagher, Maura Reck, Sean Reck, and Shiela Starr.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. Sunday until the Mass of Christ the High Priest at 8 p.m. at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Visitation will also be from 9:30 a.m. Monday until his Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. at the church, by The Most Rev. John M. Smith, Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton. Interment will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Cemetery, Shrone, Rathmore, County Kerry, Ireland.

For those who desire, memorial contributions in Fr. O'Connor's name may be made to Fourth Floor Oncology, CentraState Healthcare Foundation, 916 Route 33, Suite 6, Freehold, NJ 07728, or to the VNA of Central Jersey, 176 Riverside Ave., Red Bank, NJ 07701.

Arrangements are by the Clayton & McGirr Funeral home, Freehold Township. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com. (SBOANJ)

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