Mary E. O’Connor

“Mary was generous with her knowledge, sharing it freely and helping other people become the best they could be.” That is how Patricia Burke describes her close friend and colleague, Mary E. O’Connor ’50.  With a gift from her estate plan for the creation of the Mary E. O’Connor Endowment Fund, Mary’s final act of generosity will live in perpetuity.

Mary E. O’Connor was many things: smart (a member of Phi Beta Kappa), hard-working, and accomplished, rising through the ranks at what is now AXA Equitable during her 41-year career there. But above all, she was generous. Mary was generous with her time, mentoring colleagues and volunteering with SCORE as a counselor to small business owners. She was generous with her leadership skills, serving twice as president of the Flushing Camera Club and taking on the club positions that were the hardest to fill during her 45 years as a member. She was generous with her financial expertise, offering advice and education to many of her friends on financial matters. She was generous with her enthusiasm, always ready with a smile and quick wit, which she shared at the many college events she came to in her later years.

Always a loyal supporter, Mary chose to include Queens College in her estate plan. She often expressed appreciation for the education she received—at no cost to her—and felt an obligation to help others enjoy the same benefits. A member of the Jefferson Society, the recognition organization for those who have included Queens College in their estate plans, she had notified the college of her inclusion of a bequest in the Mary E. O’Connor Trust.

Mary passed away in October 2016. Thanks to her gift, the Mary E. O’Connor Endowment Fund will provide scholarships to juniors and seniors majoring in economics or business administration. Her final act of generosity will help generations of Queens College students have the same opportunity for the first-rate education that Mary had received.