DENNIS SIDNEY O'CONNELL
1922 - 2010

It is with profound sadness that the family of Dennis Sidney O'Connell accepts his peaceful passing on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at the age of 88 years.

Doctor O'Connell is survived by his wife Barbara, his son Sean, his 2 daughters Deirdre and Patricia, his 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
Born in London, England, Dennis joined the Royal Air Force in 1941 and served with the #239 Night Intruder Squadron until her returned to Lethbridge in 1946, where he had previously been a Bombing and Gunnery Instructor. He became manager of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce two years later, a position he held until he was appointed Director of Economic Development for the City of Lethbridge in 1969. It was during his tenure with the Chamber of Commerce that he was a driving force behind the establishment of the University of Lethbridge. He retired in 1988.

Dennis was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 and in the same year, was granted an honorary doctorate (LL.D) from the University of Lethbridge in recognition of his service as Chairman of the University's Board of Governors for eleven years. He was also a member of the University Senate.

Doctor O'Connell was active in numerous civic and national organizations at the Board and Presidential levels, including Rotary International, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Lethbridge and District Exhibition Board, Boy Scouts, Alberta Summer Games, the Canadian-Japanese Society, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the YMCA.

His friends and family remember him best as the senior Lay Reader and chorister for Saint Augustine's Anglican Church.
His family wishes to thank the staff at St. Michael's Health Care Centre for their caring and dedicated support in his final years.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00PM, on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at the ST. AUGUSTINE'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 411 - 11 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Canon James Robinson, officiating.

For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the St. Augustine's Memorial Fund, or to the St. Augustine's Foundation, 411 - 11 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 2N9.