John Joseph O'Connor, 97, stockbroker

John Joseph O'Connor, 97, of Haverford, a stockbroker for almost 50 years and a decorated World War II veteran, died Wednesday, Nov. 2, at home.

Mr. O'Connor graduated from Gonzaga High School in Georgetown and earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University. He earned a master's degree in business from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1938.

During World War II, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., where he met Nancy Archer, a civilian employee at the base. They married in September 1942, before he shipped out to the China-Burma-India Theater.

Assigned to a special-operations unit, Mr. O'Connor fought in Burma with Merrill's Marauders, named after Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill.

After helping the Marauders in an assault on a Japanese airfield, his unit made its way to southern China, where it trained and supplied the Chinese army fighting the Japanese.

Mr. O'Connor received a Bronze Star and was discharged as a lieutenant colonel.

He joined Reynolds & Co. in 1946. The investment firm later became Dean Witter Reynolds, and then Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.

Mr. O'Connor taught an investment course at Main Line Night School for more than 25 years.

He retired as a vice president of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in 1995, when he was over 80.

All the young brokers would go to him for advice because he had lived through the Depression and several recessions, a daughter, Clare Stuempfig, said.

Mr. O'Connor had learned Mandarin in China during the war and remained fascinated with Asia, his daughter said.

He had brought home from the war two ornate silver Japanese swords. In the 1960s, he contacted the U.S. State Department to have the swords returned to their owners. It was his effort at reconciliation, his daughter said.

Mr. O'Connor and his wife visited China and Japan in the 1970s.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. O'Connor is survived by a son, Brian; daughters Joan and Jeri; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. His wife died in 2005.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Chapel of Peace, West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd.