Chuck O’Connell 1942–2011
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The Anchorage LGBT community joins other friends and family members in mourning the loss of our friend and ally Chuck O’Connell, who died unexpectedly early last Thursday morning.
[caption id="attachment_1420" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Chuck and Dianne O'Connell at PrideFest 2009, Anchorage"]
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Chuck was long active with Anchorage PFLAG, including acting as its chair. He stood up numerous times for equality under the law for LGBT citizens — for instance, in 2009, he was among those friends and allies who testified in support of Anchorage Ordinance 2009-64, which would have (had the measure not been vetoed by Mayor Dan Sullivan) added sexual orientation and gender identity to the Municipality of Anchorage’s nondiscrimination code. In 2006, he testified before the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee against Senate Joint Resolution 20, which called for an amendment to Article I, sec. 25 of the Alaska Constitution (itself an amendment passed in 1998 which defined marriage as being “only between one man and one woman”) that would have stripped all rights and benefits from same-sex partnerships that appeared similar to the benefits of heterosexual marriage. Long involved with labor relations with the National Education Association—Alaska and the Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 5, Chuck maintained a lifelong commitment to workers and their fair and equitable treatment on the job, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
He was also a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, a More Light church with a long history of welcoming LGBT visitors and congregants. It is at Immanuel Presbyterian Church that Chuck’s family and friend will be holding a celebration of his life this coming Thursday at 4:00 PM.
Today’s Anchorage Daily News published the following obituary prepared by Chuck’s family:
Charles Lewis O’Connell died unexpectedly at home Feb. 10, 2011. He was 68 years old.
A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 2311 Pembroke St., with a reception afterward. The Rev. Howard Bess will officiate.
Chuck was deeply involved with labor relations; the Democratic Party; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); and Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
Chuck loved to fish, collect Alaska artifacts, and study and discuss issues facing the state. Since his retirement in 2002, his primary focus had been on his children, his home and his church, where he served as elder for business affairs, organized the monthly men’s dinners and maintained the internal e-mail communications system.
Born April 8, 1942, in Kalispell, Mont., he was the son of John and Claudia (Lewis) O’Connell. He lived with his family in Fairbanks 1950-1952, Ketchikan, 1952-1955 and Sitka, 1955-1965.
Chuck attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. He graduated in 1965 with majors in education, history and psychology, and minors in sociology and theology.
After graduation and marriage to Betty Ladiges, he taught school in Walla Walla, Wash., 1965-1967.
He moved to Anchorage, where he taught at both Woodland Park and Oceanview elementary schools, 1967-1972, and also for Alaska Airlines, 1967-1970. He was selected Anchorage Teacher of the Year in 1972. He also became active in the teachers’ union.
He was hired as NEA-Alaska deputy executive secretary, 1973-89, and by the Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52 as business agent and business manager, 1990-2002.
He married his second wife, Dianne Anderson, in May 1977. They built a home together in Stuckagain Heights, where they had continued to live.
Chuck is survived by his wife and their two terriers, Mac and Maggie; his daughter, Shannon O’Connell, her partner Laura Koppang and their children Charlie and Delaney of Cypress, Calif.; his son, John and his wife Charity and his daughter Alexandra of Crestview, Fla.; his stepson, Jeff Anderson and his daughter Tristan of Anchorage; his daughter, Jennifer and her husband Michael Goff of Redmond, Wash., who are expecting a child in September; his daughter, Jessica, her husband Don Schmitz and their daughter Myah Mathilda of Lynnwood, Wash.; and his sister, Jerry Anne Peterson of Bellevue, Wash., and her four daughters and their families.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Catherine Colleen in February 1981.
Arrangements are being made by Legacy Funeral Home, www.legacyalaska.com.
On a personal note, I’m not myself a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church, but it’s the church my brother and his family belong to, and I’ve gone to services on occasion from the time I first came to Anchorage in 1982. I’ve come to know so many wonderful people there over the years, including Chuck and Dianne O’Connell. For my own sake, and on behalf of the entire Anchorage LGBT community, I offer my heartfelt condolences to all Chuck’s family and friends.
Tags: Chuck O'Connell, Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Anchorage), PFLAG, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
