Sports giant dies

By Shaun Inguanzo
ONE of Dandenong’s greatest contributors to grassroots sport died tragically last week.
Terry O’Connor, 56, died unexpectedly on Sunday 21 September from a brain aneurism while attending St John’s Old Collegians Football Club’s presentation night in Dandenong, a club he was expected to become president of next year.
A crowd of 750 people packed St Mary’s Catholic Church in Dandenong for Mr O’Connor’s funeral on Monday and players from St John’s Old Collegians formed a guard of honour outside the church .
Mr O’Connor was instrumental in building the Saints Basketball Club, attached to St Mary’s Primary School, from 14 junior teams to more than 35 teams over the past 20 years.
Greater Dandenong mayor John Kelly, a close friend paid tribute to Mr O’Connor describing him as a genuine legend.
“ I used to say to people that Terry was a 240 volts bloke – he was plugged in and had a long lead. It’ll take five men to continue the work he did for the community.”
Cr Kelly said the support shown at Mr O’Connor’s funeral was unbelievable.
“Terry had touched so many people,” he said.
Mr O’Connor’s wife Sharon was too distraught to talk, but eldest son Darryn, 24, spoke on the family’s behalf.
“He’s probably the most positive person that I’ve known,” Darryn said. “I think he probably cared too much for everyone else, more so than himself. He has even donated his organs.”
Darryn said his dad was passionate about giving kids ‘something to do’ in Dandenong.
“He really enjoyed developing kids skills’,” he said. “He took a lot of underprivileged kids from primary schools and gave them opportunities, too.”
Dandenong Basketball Association issued a statement on its website in which it described Mr O’Connor’s involvement and commitment to the Saints Basketball Club as “almost legendary within the stadium”.
“His involvement in basketball, however, extended far further than his own club… and was regularly used as a sounding board for new ideas or to seek advice.”