Obituary of Brian Thomas O'Connor
Piscataway, NJ – Brian T. O’Connor, 61, passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ.
Born in Plainfield, NJ to Thomas and Gail O’Connor, Brian was raised in South Plainfield, and has been a resident of Piscataway since 1991.
Growing up, Brian worked at the family restaurant, Jack O’Connor’s, then, following his graduation from South Plainfield High School he attained a Bachelors’ Degree from Rutgers University in Accounting. He then went on to work in construction, both for his own company, as well as his brother, Tom’s, company. Brian then went back to school and received his Master’s Degree in Education with a focus in Math from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Not long after his graduation, he began teaching at J.P. Stevens High School in Edison, which would go on to be an over 20-year-long career. Here he proudly helped run the Censored News Club. Through the years, he also taught several college courses and tutored students for the SATs.
Outside of work, he was an avid martial artist; something he started right after high school graduation. He organized a local Tai Chi Group, and as an experienced Kung Fu Practitioner, Brian studied and taught Northern Style Kung Fu for over 40 years.
Brian was also a motorhead with a love for cars and motorcycles. He was certified to operate not only motorcycles, but also sailboats and airplanes. He was also certified in scuba diving, and was an ordained minister.
Brian is survived by his wife, Gail (nee Creehan) O’Connor; daughter Erin O’Connor; twin brother, Tom O’Connor and his wife Donna; sister, Donna Rapolla; and brother, Michael Staines and his wife Lori. He will also be missed by his five nieces and nephews, one great niece, and a host of friends and extended relatives.
A memorial gathering will be held at McCriskin – Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 2 PM to 4 PM, and from 7 PM to 9 PM.
Donations can be made in Brian’s honor to assist in Erin’s continued education at Columbia University, in which Brian was extremely proud of her acceptance.