Dave's Story

At 16 years old, David O'Connell was a Jr Firefighter with the Port Matilda Volunteer Fire Company.  Dave was a Star Scout in Scouts BSA Troop 32 in State College and an Assistant Patrol Leader. He gave time volunteering with the Builder's Association of Central PA, the Downtown State College Rotary Club, and other local organizations.  Attending State High, Dave was an enthusiastic student in the Building Construction program.

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On Thanksgiving 2019, David attempted to save his grandfather's life by performing CPR on him.  His inability to save him troubled David and compounded the grief of losing both of his maternal grandparents within the course of a few years.  

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Dave was seeing a psychologist and a therapist.  He was on medication and to all seemed to be a happy young man.  Unfortunately, depression is a tough disease and is good at masking itself.  On a Sunday evening, January 17, 2021, Dave called some family and friends, chatted like everything was ok, and then ended his own life.

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The David O'Connell Memorial Fund was established to keep his memory alive and honor how he gave freely of himself while on this Earth.

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David Michael Gordon O'Connell (2004-2021)