WEST HARTFORD – Sister Mary Consolata O’Connor, president of St. Joseph College in West Hartford from 1969-1984, died on Oct. 14 at Saint Mary Home.

The former Rosalind O’Connor was born in 1917, a daughter of the late John and Nora (Perkinson) O’Connor. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1939. From 1940-50, she taught in elementary and secondary schools in Hartford.

Sister Consolata earned a bachelor’s degree in business and economics at St. Joseph College and a master’s degree and doctorate from The Catholic University of America.

She returned to St. Joseph College as a professor of history. Over the years, she served as dean of students, academic dean and finally, president.

About her appointment as president, an editorial in the student newspaper spoke of her as "a very remarkable woman: intelligent, sensitive, concerned. Sister is very much dedicated to the students – their needs [both personal and academic], their problems, their desires. And quite importantly, she is always open to suggestion."

Recognized for her dedication to excellence in higher education, Sister Consolata served on several college-related statewide committees.

She also received honorary doctorates from Trinity College, the University of Hartford and Fairfield University.

After retiring in 1984, she became the college’s archivist. The archives were named in her honor in 2004.

She was predeceased by her five siblings: Dorothy Sutton, Evelyn O’Connor, Rosemary Furshay, Ruth Finn and John O’Connor. She is survived by 11 nieces and nephews, 29 grandnieces and grandnephews, many great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, and the Mercy community.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Oct. 17 in the Connor Chapel of Our Lady on the college campus. Burial followed Oct. 18 in the St. Mary Home cemetery.

Memorial donations in her honor may be made to the Sister Mary Consolata O’Connor Endowed Scholarship Fund, St. Joseph College, 1678 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117.