Des O'Connell Eulogy
By Ivan Johnstone. Des passed away on 26 December 2016 at the age of 82
In 1977 I joined the Mangere East Running Club. My introduction to the club was an inter-club race held at One Tree Hill, and it was Des who gave me a ride to the race. On our way back home, Des strongly advised me to ditch my Bata Bullets and buy a decent pair of running shoes. I took up Des’s advice and after 40 years of running I have never had any serious leg injuries.
Unlike other running clubs, the Mangere East Running Club insisted on Saturday club races instead of pack runs when there were no inter-club races. A number of senior runners in the club who were keen on running marathons therefore set up a pack run on Sunday mornings. This group gravitated around Des who had one or two marathons under his belt, and we frequently set out from his home in Mangere Bridge. This group included George McLaren, Johnny Fitton, and Bruce who had been a 2 hours 30 minute marathon runner in his younger days. As the season progressed it was Des who inspired me to also run marathons.
When you run on a regular basis with other runners for 2 to 3 hours and longer, you get to know your fellow runners very well. During these long runs and back at home base we had great conversations on all topics. As the years rolled by, Des’s family and my family got to know each other very well and we shared many a New Year’s Eve together. When my wife Pam had a fat fire in our home unit which resulted in extensive smoke damage, it was Des she contacted to break the news to me. When our family car was stolen, it was Des who drove me to the Police Station to collect the retrieved car.
Des and I shared the same politics. One of my favourite memories was when I was at his home watching the results of the national elections. At the announcement of the results of Robert Muldoon’s electorate, Claire started to kick a plastic Piggy Muldoon money box around the floor. It was hilarious when we all encouraged her to continue doing so.
Des has faced some adversity in life. While working in the unventilated bowels of an office building in downtown Auckland, he caught a serious lung infection which resulted in confinement to a hospital bed with a collapsed lung. For a few days we all feared for the worst. It was due to his positive attitude that he eventually made a recovery with the assistance of steroids which I understand he had to take for the rest of his life. Des continued to run and complete yet another marathon. Later on in life, he took up cycling and remained physically active throughout his 60s and early 70s.
It was after knowing Des for over 30 years that we discovered we both had a passion for playing the chromatic harmonica. On each of my more recent visits to Auckland from Dunedin I called in on him and Chrissie and we had a number of jam sessions together. It is a shame that we didn’t do this many years earlier.
Des has lived a very rich and full life and he has formed many strong and enduring friendships. I feel privileged to have been one of his close running mates. Des has been a staunch unionist and has served time on committees for the education of electrical apprentices. He has also been an assistant with Special Olympics swimming alongside Don Bidwell, a New Zealand Masters swimming champion. Above all, Des has been a devoted husband and a loving and supportive Father to Kathryn, Jason, Penny, and Claire. My deepest sympathies go to Chrissie and his children.
Des, I will miss you and your keen sense of humour, passion, and positive attitude to life. Thank you for your friendship. You will remain in my fond memories forever.