On behalf of the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities, staff and Board Members, Joanne Condon, National Manager said:
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our colleague, Mark O’Connor, his wife Louise and their son Evan.
We want to share our deepest sympathies with their families and friends, our colleagues in the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities and those people who Mark supported so well and worked with over the years.
Mark joined the National Advocacy Service in 2021 and was Regional Manager in the Midlands North East Region. Mark was a kind, thoughtful and valued colleague. He was widely respected and was a much-loved member of our Senior Leadership Team. Mark was known to us all as a true gentleman in the way he treated those around him. His warmth, generosity of spirit and professionalism touched countless lives within our workplace and beyond. He brought incredible commitment, empathy and integrity to his work and made a lasting impact on colleagues and all of those he supported.
Throughout his career, Mark championed the rights of others. Mark had a particular interest in including the voice of disabled persons in decisions that directly impacted on their lives, and people’s right to make their own decisions in life. Mark was passionate about human rights, and he demonstrated this dedication in every aspect of his work. His unwavering commitment to these values was evident in the impact he had on all those he worked with. Mark will be sorely missed by all of us who worked with him at the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities. We will greatly miss his friendship and his kindness.”