By: Farrar H.R. No. 1668
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The passing of community leader Dr. Maconda Brown
O'Connor of Houston on May 19, 2012, brought a profound loss to her
family, her wide circle of friends, and countless Texans whose
lives she touched; and
WHEREAS, A native of the Bayou City, the former Maconda Brown
was born on May 4, 1930, to George and Alice Brown; she attended
Pine Manor College, and after raising her four children, she
returned to school at the age of 51; and
WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor graduated from the University of St.
Thomas and went on to earn a master's degree from Smith College,
where she continued her studies and completed her doctorate in
1998, at the age of 68; determined to make a positive difference,
she pursued a career in social work; and
WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor believed that all children deserve
second chances, and, in an effort to reach those most in need, she
set up office in a broom closet in one of Houston's toughest
juvenile facilities; a licensed advanced clinical practitioner,
she also maintained a small private practice to offer therapeutic
services to underprivileged families; and
WHEREAS, Outside of her profession, Dr. O'Connor helped
countless area young people as cofounder of Children at Risk, the
Houston A+ Challenge, and the Greater Houston Collaborative for
Children, which provided early education to nearly 84,000
participants; she further gave back through her contributions to
Harris County Protective Services, El Hogar de Ninos, the Child
Abuse Prevention Network, the Mental Health Association of Houston
and Harris County, and the Harris County Juvenile Probation
Department; and
WHEREAS, Dr. O'Connor demonstrated a commitment to the
greater community as well, sharing her time as a member of the
boards of the Discovery Green Conservancy, the Brookings
Institution, the American Leadership Forum, Baylor College of
Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, The Rice Center for Education,
the University of Houston-Downtown, and the Houston Area Women's
Center; in her work as both president and chair of one of Houston's
most active charities, the Brown Foundation, her dedication to
helping people in need was legendary; she also supported the
Democratic Party and Emily's List; and
WHEREAS, This loving matriarch shared the richness of her
life with a family that included four children, George, Thomas,
Nancy, and John, nine grandchildren, Ryan, Kelly, Maconda, Nancy,
Andrew, Ralph, Rebecca, Ian, and Charlie, and a
great-granddaughter, Louisa O'Connor; and
WHEREAS, Unparalleled in her advocacy and activism, Maconda
O'Connor inspired hope while showing many young Texans the path to a
brighter future, and her legacy will continue to resonate in the
lives of those she touched for years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Maconda Brown
O'Connor and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family:
to her children, George O'Connor, Thomas O'Connor, Nancy
Abendshein, and John O'Connor, and their spouses, Lynn O'Connor,
Barbie O'Connor, Mark Abendshein, and Sarah O'Connor; to her nine
grandchildren, Ryan O'Connor and his wife, Amy, Kelly O'Connor,
Maconda Abinader and her husband, Sacha, Nancy O'Connor, Andrew
Abendshein, Ralph Abendshein, Rebecca O'Connor, Ian O'Connor, and
Charlie O'Connor; to her great-granddaughters, Louisa and Georgia
O'Connor; to her siblings, Nancy Brown Negley, Louisa S. Sarofim,
and Mike Stude; and to her other relatives and many friends; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Maconda
Brown O'Connor.