ALEXANDRIA, VA – Steven Joseph O’Connell, 51, formerly of Watervliet and Menands, died Thursday, February 23, 2017 in National Harbor, MD. Born in Troy on October 10, 1965, he is the loving son of Marietta Farone O’Connell and the late Joseph B. O’Connell.
Steve was raised in the Port Schuyler section of Watervliet and attended St. Brigid’s School, Catholic Central High School and graduated from Watervliet High School, class of 1983. He played varsity basketball for the Watervliet Cannoneers and also “ran” cross country on his way to Bob’s Diner. He later attended Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. Following his marriage, Steve and his family relocated to Menands, where they began to sew deep roots in the community.
In his earlier years, he was employed by Grand Union Supermarket, and BeCee’s Tavern in Watervliet, where he had met the love of his life. He was a driver and supervisor at Morgan Linen in Menands for 15 years. In 2011, he moved to Grapevine, Texas to work for Five Star Laundry. He recently transferred to Maryland to be Director of Operations for the same company, and resided in Alexandria, VA.
Steve was above all a dedicated family man and father. During his years in Menands, he was an active member on the school board, coached many sports teams (sometimes more than one at a time), and helped to set up the concessions program for the Menands Junior Baseball & Softball League, of which he would later become the Co-President of. He enjoyed bowling at the Watervliet Lodge of Elks, and was an avid New York Yankees, Giants and Knicks fan. Steve was a man with a smile that could light up any room, and had the ability to spread his happiness and joy to everyone around him. His positive attitude was overwhelmingly contagious and would set the tone of any situation he found himself in. He was always available to help a friend with any and everything possible, and lacked the general ability to decline to help. Though he spent a great deal of time volunteering, his most treasured moments were spent with his family. He loved his wife and children dearly, and spent every day showing them just how much that was true. It is because of all of this, that his presence will be most sorely missed.
He is the beloved husband of Ileane P. Campbell O’Connell, devoted father of June M. (Tim Delisle) Rossi of Watervliet, Daniel S. O’Connell of Watervliet, Trisha I. O’Connell of Grapevine, TX, and Gus the weird looking mutt; proud grandfather of Natalie Ann and Peyton Harper Delisle; best brother of Michael J. (Ellen Mayo) O’Connell of Watervliet, Brian J. O’Connell of Sudbury, Vermont and Anne (Frank) Ellerbusch of Warren, New Jersey. He is also survived by aunts, uncles, numerous nieces and nephews, and far too many friends to count.
The funeral will be Friday, March 3rd at 9:15 am from the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet and at 10:00 am at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2416 7th Avenue, Watervliet where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Donald Rutherford. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Thursday, March 2 from 4-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Menands Junior Baseball & Softball League, 23 Brookside Avenue, Menands, NY 12204.
Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.

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