Mark O'Connor

Mark P. O'Connor, 57, of Fort Collins, gave up the fight to melanoma at his Fort Collins home on April 19, 2008. He was born on April 10, 1951, in Peoria, Ill., and was the eldest of eight children of John R. and Bette L. O'Connor. Mark graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1969, attained his BS in pharmacy degree from Purdue University in 1974 and his MBA in marketing from Indiana University in 1978. He was employed as a master pharmacist for 33 years, beginning his career with Hook Drugs in Indiana and concluding with the University of Colorado Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy in January 2008. He also worked numerous other pharmacist positions in Arizona, Oregon and primarily the metro Denver area. He married his wonderful wife, the former Patricia Ann McConnell, on Feb. 5, 1982, in Aurora. She is employed by McKee Medical Center in Loveland. Mark is also survived by his daughter, Kelli Colleen O'Connor, and his son, Cody Jonathan O'Connor, who are both students at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Mark's immediate family surviving members include brothers, Patrick and John of Phoenix, Ryan of Lafayette; sisters, Norah Ashcraft of Lafayette, Molly Lydon of Ankeny, Iowa, and Christine of Phoenix, Ariz. Mark will be remembered as an accomplished mountaineer, adventurer, skier, traveler, husband, father, and Boilermaker. He has now embarked on his greatest road-trip possible. What a long strange trip it's been. He was preceded in death by his brother Tim and both parents. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. April 26, 2008, at Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, and will include a bagpiper. Father Don Willette will officiate at the service. A reception celebrating Mark's life will be held after the memorial service at 2:30 p.m. at Mulligan's Pub, 2439 S. College in Fort Collins. After cremation, a scattering of the ashes celebration will be performed over the Continental Divide at Hoosier Pass, just south of Breckenridge. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Mark P. O'Connor Memorial Fund, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, CO 80524. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com .