John J. O'Connell, 78, PECO executive and proud Irishman

WHEN THE Irish Memorial was dedicated on Penn's Landing in 2003, Jack O'Connell, a member of the board that commissioned the sculpture, happily pointed out convincing evidence of how the Irish have prospered in America since the deadly famine of the 1800s.

"All the committee members are overweight," joked O'Connell, himself a big man.

In contrast, the 35 figures on the 30-foot-long monument show in their faces the ravages of a famine that killed millions when the Irish potato crop failed between 1845 and 1850, causing a massive migration to America.

On one side of the monument are the desperate and dying, including children; on the other side, a boat is disembarking immigrants with another expression on their faces, one of hope for salvation.

O'Connell was among those who struggled and lobbied and raised funds for 12 years to memorialize the Irish immigrants with the massive sculpture at Front and Chestnut streets.

It is called "An Gorta Mor," Gaelic for "The Great Hunger."

John J. O'Connell, who rose from meter mechanic for the old Philadelphia Electric Co. to management positions in what became PECO in a 40-year career, establishing the company's sponsorship of the Variety Club Charities, a devoted Catholic and family man, died Friday of melanoma. He was 78 and was living in Pompano Beach, Fla.

Jack was proudest of his work on the creation of the Irish Memorial, and was a popular figure in the Philadelphia Irish community.

As a lobbyist in Harrisburg, he worked with the Legislature's Irish caucus to drum up support, helped raise funds and decide on the sculptor from among those from around the country who submitted sketches.

The final choice was Glenna Goodacre, of Santa Fe, N.M., who created the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington and the face of Sacagawea on the dollar gold coin. The work is the centerpiece of a 1.75-acre park and sits on a 2-foot-high granite plinth.

The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick spearheaded the initial fundraising for the $2.7 million project.

O'Connell was born in Philadelphia to John and Sophie O'Connell. He graduated from Southeast Catholic High School and enlisted in the Navy. He served in the Construction Battalion (Seabees) as a mechanic in Newfoundland.

After the Navy, he went to work for Philadelphia Electric. He later founded a credit union, rose to serve in administrative jobs and became public-policy manager.

He was instrumental in establishing the company sponsorship of the Variety Club Charities. After he retired from PECO, he worked six more years as CEO and chairman of the board of the IGA Federal Credit Union.

Jack married the former Monica Ford in 1998.

He enjoyed being on the water, and had boats in Wildwood and Pompano Beach. He liked to travel, and took the family on summer vacations every year, often to Lake Placid, N.Y. They also visited Ireland, London and Hawaii.

"He was proud to be Irish, proud to be Catholic, and was very proud of his family," said his daughter, Terry O'Connell. "He was a warm and generous man."

Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by two other daughters, Kathy Selby and Roseann Bird; and a son, John. His wife of 25 years, the former Elaine Burke, died in 1985.

Services: Funeral Mass 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 2316 Fairhill Ave., Glenside. Friends may call at 7 tonight at the William R. May Funeral Home, 354 Easton Road, Glenside. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bridge Education Foundation, Jack O'Connell Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 222, Harrisburg, PA 17108.