BUXTON – Joseph S. “Joey O” O’Connell, Jr., 79, formerly of Portland, passed away on July 28, 2026 following a brief illness. He was born in Portland, a son of Joseph Sr. and Patricia C. (Ward) O’Connell.

Joey grew up in Libby Town along with his extended family. He graduated from Portland High School in 1965. He earned bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine Orono in 1969 and later went on to get his master’s degree from University of Southern Maine.

He began working at the Youth Center before starting a long and storied career as a teacher and coach at Portland High. As a reading teacher, he was a champion for the underdog. He helped build a foundation for students of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities and helped many of them graduate. He coached football, basketball, and baseball but his favorite sport to coach was softball. Always the teacher, it was where he could make the most impact. 

A tremendous athlete and a fierce competitor, Joey played football, baseball and basketball at Portland High. He later went on to play football and baseball at the University of Maine Orono. It was also at Orono where he met his wife, Barbara. They got engaged there. The Portland kid settled in Buxton, where he and Barbara started a family.

Later in life they became snowbirds and spent half the year in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. He loved having his kids and grandkids up to the pool in Buxton where he still managed to coach many whiffle ball games. He will be missed.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara A. (Couper) O’Connell; sister, Barbara O’Connell-Moore; daughter, Gretchen Bisco, son, Kyle O’Connell; and his five grandchildren, Corey, Whit, Anthony, Jason, and Jack.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 19, at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland.

Please visit http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Joseph’s online guest book.