Charles F. "Chas" O'Connor

Charles “Chas” Francis O'Connor, resident of Braintree, died suddenly on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at his home.

He was born in Hartford, CT on November 23, 1955, son of the late Leonard A. O’Connor and Mary L. (Mullan) O’Connor. A proud son of Cromwell CT, Chas lived his life in and around his mother’s native Boston and his greater family’s roots.

As a youth, Chas was an inquisitive, fun-loving person with a passion for all things sports and in particular, New York sports teams. In high school, he blended his love for sports with an emerging talent as a writer and landed his first writing gig covering his high school sports (Xavier, class of '74) for the Middletown Press. He attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where his talents landed him the job as Managing Editor of The Minuteman of the university paper. After UMass, Chas continued working for several local newspapers before his byline caught the eye of The Patterson Evening News in New Jersey, where he became the Associate Sports Editor, becoming the youngest sports writer in the Yankee locker room. Always the consummate sports fan, he was a lifelong Yankee fan but was also loyal to sports teams of where he would reside for most of his life.

In the early 1980s, Chas left the news business. He chose to move to Boston, where he would enjoy a simpler life driving a cab. Soon after moving to Boston, Chas met his longtime partner Lucy: a woman raised in South Boston from a young age, originally from Brazil. With her, he began the next chapter of his life, becoming not only a loving life partner to Lucy, but a trusting and caring stepfather to her two daughters. They would later go on to settle down in Melrose, having a son together.

He later became a dispatcher for Carey Limousine, where he worked for two decades until his passing. There, he made a name for himself as an esteemed member of the company, being chosen to be the representative of Carey Boston at their annual onsite Super Bowl dispatch team.

Chas was beloved by his family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. His wit, intelligence, and love for good writing will be sorely missed.

Chas is survived by his children, Annie Galindo, Christina Yates, and Patrick O’Connor; his grandchildren Anthony Lonano, David Galindo, Alexandro Galindo, and Izzy Yates; and his siblings Anita O’Connor, Stephen O’Connor, and Thomas O’Connor.

He is predeceased by partner Lucia Mackie, and parents Leonard O’Connor of Springfield, MA, Mary Louise Mullen O’Connor of Dorchester MA.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to gather in honor of Chas during Visiting Hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose, on Friday, October 3 from 4-7 p.m., and again on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 9:45 a.m. before leaving in procession to Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield for his Funeral Mass celebrated at 11:00am.