Dennis Edward O'Connell

Dennis Edward O’Connell passed away on January 12, 2024 after a short illness, at the age of 79. Denny, as he was known, was born February 20, 1944 to James and Evelyn O’Connell in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in Epiphany of Our Lord parish and attended primary school there, after which he attended Saint Louis University High School, graduating in 1962. After high school, Denny earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame in 1966 and a Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University in 1969. He married Sheryl Ann Furdek (Sherry) on August 1, 1969, whom he had known from Epiphany parish and to whom he was devoted until his passing.

Denny spent 55 years in the practice of law, first with a commission in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the United States Army, which took him to New Orleans, Louisiana; Seoul, South Korea; and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After his discharge from active duty in 1973 he entered private practice with Evans & Dixon in St. Louis, while remaining in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1983. In 1977 Denny joined Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he spent the next 46 years as associate, partner, and senior counsel, and remained active in the firm until his death. He and his family moved to Kirkwood, Missouri in 1978, where Denny and Sherry became fixtures in the parish of Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, with Denny involved in the parish council, the PTA board and coaching basketball. At Saint Peter’s he made lifelong friends who became his skiing companions, golfing partners, and poker buddies.

Denny will be remembered for his relaxed, friendly demeanor, his humility, and his unflappable manner. Only poor performances from his favorite sports teams and poor drivers raised his ire. He had a natural curiosity which he indulged by traveling widely in his later years with family and friends, visiting all seven continents. He enjoyed regaling others with stories of the things he experienced on his travels. Denny was also a great patron of local institutions and sports, with a fondness for the Missouri Botanical Gardens and the Fox Theater and a passion for SLU basketball and local St. Louis professional sports teams. 

Above all, Denny loved spending time with his family. He spent countless hours watching his children and grandchildren play sports as they grew up. He also enjoyed taking his children and grandchildren on trips and to Billiken basketball and Cardinals games, or out for a meal. Denny was well known for his love of food, and would rarely pass up the opportunity for a dessert. 

Denny is survived by his wife, Sherry; his only brother, James O’Connell; his four children, Daniel O’Connell (Lana), Kelli Barton (Jeff), Kevin O’Connell (Ann), and Timothy O’Connell (Justina); and his 8 grandchildren (Macey and Flynn O’Connell; Evelyn, Connell and Kate Barton; Dennis O’Connell; and Henry and Rose O’Connell).

Visitation will be Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, 243 W. Argonne, Kirkwood, MO, 63122 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. Funeral services immediately after visitation. A reception following services will be held at Sunset 44 restaurant. Burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society through St. Peter’s or online at https://stpeterkirkwood.org/st-vincent-de-paul; or to St. Louis University School of Law.