Michael Joseph O’Connor, 68, of Williston, VT passed away at his family home in Westminster, VT, Saturday, November 2, 2024. Michael was born August 16, 1956, the oldest of three children born to Marlene and William O’Connor. Michael grew up working alongside his father at the Bellows Falls Country Club and after graduating from Bellows Falls Union High School in 1974, he attended The University of Massachusetts Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Amherst, MA earning his degree in Agronomy.

Michael served his placement training at the legendary Chevy Chase Club in Maryland and later became the Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Ridgewood Country Club, in NJ. He met his beloved wife, Barbara Muller at Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes, VT, where he started as Golf Course Superintendent and later became Director of Golf Course Operations.

In 1991, Michael founded Greenspace Environmental & Turf Services, an international environmental company specializing in design and permitting of golf courses in the United States and abroad. He enjoyed playing golf around the world and many adventures in his travels.

Michael was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s, continued his practice in agronomy and simultaneously served the Vermont Chapter of APDA. He was an advocate for those impacted by the disease.

In his early life, Michael loved skiing and spent many a winter as a ski instructor on the slopes in Vermont and working with the adaptive ski program. As a young child, his parent’s gifted him his first American Flyer model train set. That gift turned into a lifelong passion collecting and restoring model trains. Michael worked with the Shelburne Museum and other train enthusiasts, on the museum’s exhibit. He was a Volunteer Emeritus and part of Electra S Engineers, who kept the Shelburne Museum’s model toy trains running. Michael also found great pleasure in playing guitar. He was a self taught musician and an accomplished finger style guitar player. He enjoyed his many friends in the music community and having competed in the Canadian Finger Style Guitar Competition.

Mike’s greatest love was his wife, Barbara, whom he married in Stowe, VT in July of 1982. Together, they had many wonderful years traveling and enjoying life. He is survived by his wife, Barbara O’Connor, his mother, Marlene O’Connor and recently pre-deceased father, William O’Connor of Westminster, sister, Shannon O’Connor and husband, Michael Pon of Washington, NH, sister, Erin Harding and husband, John Harding of Boulder, CO, brother-in-law, Werner Muller and wife, Lisa Charest of Hopkinton, NH, sister-in-law, Ramona El Hamzaoui and husband, Mustapha, of Arlington, VA, sister-in-law, Lisa Muller and husband, Jonathan Lewis of Waterbury, VT, uncle, Paul O’Connor of Walpole, NH, and cousin, Robert Kenney and wife, Ruth of Helena, MT. His nieces and nephews include: Brianna Novak and daughter, Kendal, Michaela and Pete Herrholz, and children, Harrison, Hayleigh and Alex, Grace Harding, Joe and Brittney Harding and children, Maverick, Ellianna and Oliver, Carter and Carissa Muller, Ellias and Sarra El Hamzaoui.

Calling Hours will be held on November 16, 2024, from 1:00-3:00 PM. A time of sharing and celebrating Michael will take place at 1:30 PM at the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT. A burial will be held in the Spring in Stowe, VT.

Michael was an active member of the golf community both locally and nationally and spent many years on the board of the Vermont Golf Course Superintendent’s Association. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Michael’s honor can be made to the Vermont Golf Course Superintendent’s Association, 24 Bowman Road, Vergennes, VT 05491 Attn: O’Connor Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT.