Professor William O’Connell Memorial Scholarship

The Professor William O’Connell Memorial Scholarship

A beloved history professor at Nassau Community College, Professor William O’Connell’s greatest love was in helping his students understand history, making the long past come alive for them through vivid stories. Professor O’Connell taught Western Civilization, European History and American History. 20th Century European History was an area of special interest.

A native of Flushing, Queens, New York, Professor O’Connell spent his entire career as an educator, beginning as a social studies teacher in junior high schools in Queens in the 1960s. He became a professor of history almost 20 years ago in both the State University of New York and the City University of New York systems.

Professor O’Connell earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history at St John’s University and did extensive graduate work in history at New York University.

Professor O’Connell died on December 2, 2018.