Date of death: 8/13/2010
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1961
Bart O’Connor, 74, of Evansville, passed away at his residence.He attended Saint Meinrad Seminary for seven years; graduated from St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, KS; and received his Masters degree from St. Louis University in social work.Bart was a servant leader. His care and concern for the children and families in Vanderburgh County was evident from the many contributions that he made throughout his 49 years of service as Chief Probation Officer of the Juvenile Division of the Vanderburgh Superior Court. He was the first degreed social worker appointed as a probation officer in Vanderburgh County.He participated for the last 35 years on the Department of Child Services Child Protection Team and local coordinating committees. Bart served on the Youth Service Board of Directors for over 35 years and was a member of the Indiana Correctional Association. He was a founding member of EVSC Community Council, serving on the steering committee at the time of his death. Bart was honored by Chief Justice Randall Shepard for his extraordinary work as Chief Probation Officer in Vanderburgh County. Bart was honored to serve as Chief Probation Officer under Judges Morris Merril, Robert Lensing and Brett Niemeier. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Bart is survived by his wife of 47 years, Ginny (Virginia Winn); sons, Daniel O’Connor and his wife Brenda of Shiloh, IL, and John O’Connor and his wife Michelle of Evansville; daughter, Karen Garst and her husband Mark of O’Fallon, IL; grandchildren, Kyle Joseph, Nathan Douglas, Kathryn Elizabeth and Justin Allen O’Connor, and Miranda, Kaila, Alec, Destin and Steth Garst; brothers, Maurice O’Connor of Evansville and Richard and John O’Connor, both of Seattle, WA.He was preceded in death by his parents Daniel and Kathryn O’Connor; and brothers Daniel and Anthony O’Connor.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Vincent Day Care Center, 730 W. Delaware, Evansville, IN, 47710; St Mary’s Medical Center Foundation, 3700 Washington Avenue, Evansville, IN 47714; Daughters of Charity, 9400 New Harmony Road, Evansville, IN 47720; or VNA Hospice, P.O. Box 3487, Evansville, IN 47734.Published in the Evansville Courier and Press, www.courierpress.com, on August 15, 2010.