Patrick John O’Connor

June 1st, 1948 – March 24th, 2026

Patrick was a devoted family man, cherished for his dedication to his loved ones and staunch commitment to Self-Realization Fellowship.

Patrick was born in 1948 in Glendale, California. His father’s job took his family to live in Europe and Northern Africa. Patrick lived in Hawaii, Morocco, and Italy.

Pat had two sisters, Margaret and Cathy, and one brother, Tom Jr., all now deceased.

From a young age, Patrick was a curious, yet sensitive lad. That curiosity never left him — it simply grew into the remarkable resourcefulness and know-how that those who loved him came to rely on.

Pat traveled extensively with his parents until the age of 14, when his family settled back in Rossmoor, Southern California. He attended Western High School and took up wrestling. He later attended college, including Humboldt University in Northern California, where he excelled in math, science, and communication. Rather than go into forestry science, he opted to obtain his real estate broker’s license in Southern California.

In 1970, at the age of 23, Pat met Mary. They had two children, Jason, now 52, and Shana, 49. Their marriage lasted 56 years.

In the ‘70s, Pat and Mary were introduced to Self-Realization Fellowship, which carried the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. From that point on, SRF was at the forefront of all his endeavors. Pat took his Kriya vows in 1991. The name O’Connor means “patron of warriors” in Irish — and Pat lived up to that name, serving as a warrior for his Guru and the SRF organization. He not only cherished serving his Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, in many capacities and projects at SRF’s Mother Center and Fullerton temple — he also led meditations for Good Friday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. These were special to him and among the high points of his life. He learned to play the harmonium by ear and loved the chant “In the Valley of Sorrow.” He had a unique mind and always needed to be busy.

Pat loved to travel. He and Mary took 22 cruises to many points of the globe — a life well lived: full of great memories, adventures, and blessings.

Pat was highly skilled at problem solving and could repair or fix almost anything. In the mid-‘80s, his entrepreneurial side always wanted his own business — and thus Paradise Yachts was born in Huntington Harbor, California. He custom ordered and delivered six Taiwanese motor yachts to delighted customers. His first property acquisition was 60 acres of land in Northern California, where he had a ranch-style home built with an adjacent indoor swimming pool. It was later sold to the town doctor.

In 2012, he traveled to Florida and purchased seven properties, which he later converted into eight rental homes in Northern San Diego. He was a hard worker who did things his own way — which frustrated some — but his exemplary endeavors were always impeccable and long lasting.

Pat gave his family a sense of safety, reliability, and security. In the mid-‘90s, Pat was a stay-at-home dad while Mary earned her degree in dental science.

One of his most beloved hobbies was power boating. He owned boats ranging from 24 to 48 feet and enjoyed piloting them to Avalon Harbor in Catalina, where he held a coveted mooring for several years. He also enjoyed road trips with his young family to county fairs and state parks.

The world will feel a little different without him in it — a little quieter, a little less certain. Because when Pat was around, you just knew everything was going to be okay.

Patrick O’Connor, who lived in Irvine, California for over 45 years, passed away Thursday, March 24th from pneumonia and sepsis at Saddleback Hospital in Laguna Hills, California. He had fractured his hip in late 2024 and his femur in the spring of 2025. He was 77 years old.

He will be deeply missed by his family and friends. His helpfulness and love of service to others, his hard work and generous nature will never be forgotten.

May he rest on the lap of Divine Mother, where he always wanted to be. He loved this aspect of God above all else.

We are so grateful he was ours.

Rest easy, Pat. You earned it.