O'CONNOR, Nancy L.

(Maiden Name: Emerick)

Nancy L. O’Connor, 69, died May 24, 2012, at her Hummingbird Hill Ranch outside Buena Vista after fighting pancreatic cancer. She was born Dec. 28, 1942, in Winsted, Conn., to Ida and William Emerick. Mrs. O’Connor and her husband, Richard “Dick” O’Connor, moved to Buena Vista from Connecticut in 1971. They were married 49 years. Friends and family said she was a true conservative, caring for flowers, plants, birds and all the wildlife that frequented the family’s ranch at the base of Mount Princeton. Mrs. O’Connor was a real estate broker for more than 43 years. She served as Chaffee County chairman of the Republican Party for 26 years, longer than any other county chairman in the state. She led numerous political campaigns in the county for candidates for local offices, U.S. representative, U.S. senator and governor. To honor her longtime efforts, the Chaffee County GOP created the Nancy O’Connor Award in 2011. She was the first recipient of the award. She served on innumerable boards and committees; baked pies, cookies, cakes and bread; and collected contributions for Emergency Medical Services, Booster Club, Rotary, Turner Farm, Arkansas Valley Car Club, Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, Ark-Valley Humane Society, Boys & Girls Clubs, Colorado Mountain College, The Arkansas Valley Christian Mission, Buena Vista Congregational Church, Lincoln Day dinners, Republican candidates and many more. She was known as the “Lasagna Lady,” serving at many events, especially for the Buena Vista High School government class student trips to Washington, D.C. Mrs. O’Connor frequently offered her time for community causes and people she knew. She was preceded in death by her husband; grandson, Patrick Hansen; sister, Sherry Costanzo; and her parents. Survivors include her daughters, Roxanne (Tyler) Hansen and Amber (Jeremy) Glus, both of Buena Vista; granddaughter, Hope Hansen of Buena Vista; and brothers, Barry Emerick of Minnesota and Ricky Emerick of Connecticut. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent to: Arkansas Valley Christian Mission, P.O. Box 4646, Buena Vista, CO 81211; Chaffee County EMS Foundation, P.O. Box 388, Poncha Springs, CO 81242; or Chaffee County Boys & Girls Clubs, P.O. Box 1430, Salida, CO 81201. Her memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. June 11, 2012, at the Buena Vista Congregational United Church of Christ, 217 Crossman Ave., with lunch to follow. 2012
Posted by volunteer on June 25, 2012

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