Richard Connor

The live stream will begin when Mass begins around 10:00 am on Saturday, January 8 at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/visitationtv
Richard Bernard Connor died at Mission Chateau, Prairie Village, KS with family and caregivers surrounding him January 3, 2022 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Visitation Catholic Church at 10:00 am on Saturday January 8 with his son Rev. Brian Connor, presiding. The family will host an Irish Wake on Friday January 7 at the home of Kevin and Anne Connor beginning with a rosary at 6:00 pm.
Richard (Dick) was born to Gertrude Brink Connor and Bernard Joseph Connor on June 2, 1931, and resided at 5300 Charlotte, Kansas City, until marriage. He was the third of four children (all now deceased). With two well-behaved older sisters, Sr. Carolyn Bernard (Margery) Connor and Patsy Connor Naime, he chose to spend his youth with his younger Irish twin brother, Bernard J "Bunky" Connor. Sharing a bedroom with Bunky and their grandmother fostered boyish shenanigans in this two working-parent household from racing his grandmother in her wheelchair down Charlotte to rolling Bernards "grey ghost" down 53rd street after hours. Dick was proud to say that from kindergarten to college he was educated by the Jesuits: at St. Francis Xavier School, Rockhurst High School, Rockhurst College and finishing at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. His lifelong love of history, architecture and tennis all were given life at Spring Hill.
During and after college he took employment as a laborer for his cousins firm, AL Huber Construction, helping clean up the Kansas City west bottoms following the 1951 flood. Salvaging flood damaged pavers and lamp posts, he built a New Orleans style courtyard patio in his parents backyard. When his liberal arts education was slow to transition into a career he diverted for a year of law school at the University of Missouri. Not long after meeting the attractive Kathleen Shaughnessy she informed him he would need a better job, his own car, and to move out of his parents house if he were to continue to escort her around town. Soon thereafter the job came, and he began a successful career in commercial insurance with Altman-Singleton Insurance where his clients ranged from Smaks Hamburgers to KCP&L. On weekends and evenings, Dick pursued his interest in residential and multi-family real estate which became his second career.
He married Kathleen Shaughnessy June 15, 1957 at St. Agnes Catholic Church and with her they began their life together raising six children: Keith (Julie); Father Brian, Lincoln, NE; Kevin (Anne); Brennan (Kari), Seattle, WA; Malachy (Kilmeny); and Mary Kate (Eric Rubin), Washington, DC. and eventually welcoming 19 grandchildren and great grandson, Christopher, this year. They were married for over 60 years before Kathleen died in 2018.
Following sports at any level was not a part of Dicks life; Connors play sports, others watch them. Dick had active tennis doubles games for five decades, routinely slipping out from Sunday family brunches to join friends "Lightning, Freddie, Charlie, Chaps, Chuck, Les, Ed and George" on the courts. His tennis began on public courts and developed at The Rockhill Tennis Club, flourished at The Carriage Club, with family, and was savored in retirement in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Many of Dick and Kathleens dearest friends were those who shared their interest in community, family, and tennis. Dick was playing three times a week into his 80s until Parkinsons limited his mobility. In recent years Dick could be seen on Friday night dates with Kathleen at the Nelson Art Gallerys Roselle Court, disassembling her scooter afterwards and scootering with her around Brookside.
The family thanks Beth Dierks, our heaven-sent dear friend and caregiver for mom and dad who allowed them to stay in the family home for many years and keep their independence. We are also grateful to Mission Chateau and their caring staff for assisting Dick for more than two years as he fought Parkinsons. The family suggests contributions to Visitation Church, Rockhurst High School, Saint Teresas Academy (Connor Family Scholarship) or to the Stephanie Waterman Tennis Foundation.


There are no gallery images.

Rosary
Friday, January 07, 2022
6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

The home of Kevin and Anne Connor

Directions
Irish Wake
Friday, January 07, 2022
6:45 PM - 10:00 PM

The home of Kevin and Anne Connor

Directions
Mass of Christian Burial
Saturday, January 08, 2022
10:00 AM

Visitation Church 5141 Main StreetKansas City, Missouri 64113

Directions
Reception
Saturday, January 08, 2022

Tighe Hall

Following the Mass

Directions