GEORGE FRANKLIN OCONNELL

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GEORGE FRANKLIN OCONNELL The death of Mr. George Franklin OConnell, Q.C., of Saint John, NB occurred at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Monday, December 10, 2001. Born in Winnipeg, he was the son of the late Frederick and Georgina OConnell. He joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1939. He was one of the first 25 sailors sent to H.M.S. Raleigh where, eventually 150 Canadian sailors were trained as officers in the British Navy. Following receipt of his commission he served on several ships of the Royal Navy and Canadian Navy and received the North Atlantic Star, the South Atlantic Star and the Mediterranean Star, all awarded to those who saw combat in those seas. He returned to Halifax as an instructor in anti-submarine tactics and developed a training technique which became known as the "Night Escort Trainer". He finished the war as Commanding Officer of the Night Escort Trainer in St. Johns, NF. He entered the University of New Brunswick Law School in Saint John in the fall of 1938; however, his legal education was interrupted with the advent of the Second World War. Following his discharge from the navy, he completed his law studies at UNB Law School, graduating and being admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1946. Following his admission, he commenced practice with Sanford and Teed, and remained with that firm and its successor firms since that time. At the time of his death, he was counsel to Patterson Palmer Hunt Murphy. He was created a Queens Counsel in 1972. For many years a familiar figure at hearings before the Motor Carrier Board of New Brunswick, he also practiced before the Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia Motor Carrier Boards. He served as a Director and Secretary of the Canadian Highway Transport Lawyers Association. He practiced in the Commercial and Real Estate areas and represented several institutional lenders and developers. He spent much of his free time at his beloved camp on Peltoma Lake where he enjoyed hunting, fishing and making maple syrup. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister June OConnell, and two infant children, John Michael and Patricia Margaret. He is survived by his wife Margaret (Clawson) of Saint John, sons, William (Anne) of Rothesay, NB, Robert (Jo-Anne) of Grand Bay-Westfield, NB, and James (Beth) of Saint John; his two sisters, Mae McMillan and Margaret Campbell, both of Winnipeg; four grandchildren, Katie, Tom, Jennifer and William; several nieces and nephews and special friends, Stephanie and Hillary Laughlin. Resting at Brenans Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506-634-7424) with visitation on Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held from the Church of St. John and St. Stephen on Coburg Street on Friday, December 14 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place in Fernhill Cemetery in Saint John. Remembrances may be made to the New Brunswick Heart and Stroke Foundation or the charity of the donors choice. www.brenansfh.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 13, 2001