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How to adequately put into words the impact that knowing Vic O’Connor has had in my life. I feel, as so many of you do as well, intensely privileged to have known Vic.

Vic filled a room when he entered it. He had such an air of confidence and competence. He was a warrior in the best sense of the word. He was large in valor, in bravery, in intellect, and in compassion. He was a mountain of a man in my eyes. I shared many Bombay Sapphire martinis with Vic while he recounted the most important things in life – friends, family, values, and work ethic. I admired that man so much.

I witnessed Vic undress many a legal adversary with the deftness of a ninja. He was tenacious, clever and highly, highly principled. I valued his advice and his professionalism. I took great comfort in knowing that I had Vic O’Connor on my side. And he was willing to make amazing sacrifices when dealing with his clients that went beyond duty. Who else but Vic would agree to a client/lawyer bench press contest while he weighed 150 pounds and the client weighed 300 pounds! Push up contests ensued, and though he was given the option of choosing a running contest he would refuse. He could have crushed me so easily. I respected that man so much.

When I was dealing with a hectic travel schedule Vic was the first to offer to watch over my son, Steele, who attended West Point Grey Academy along with Vic’s children. Of course Vic offered his home to Steele as well. Not only did he extend his help but he offered the assistance of Lori. This tells you much of the passionate and trusting relationship that he and Lori shared and of the wonderful children that they raised together. I trusted that man so much.

I remember that Vic was always impeccably dressed – he was the only guy I knew that had shoes that matched his ties. I guess that on top of all his attributes Vic was stylin! I enjoyed that man so much.

Vic’s passing has left a hole in my heart that you could drive his Porsche through – he was a brother to me and he can never be replaced. I know that I am a better man because I knew him. He will be with me always. I will miss that man so much.

It’s that smile that I will go back to, even when I suspected he wasn’t feeling well. In particular I recall Vic’s smile as we stood outside the Chan Centre last year before Alex’s graduation when he told me how happy he was to be there. We knew what he meant. How Vic loved to talk about his family! And although we all knew this day would come, that it came too early is most surely the case.

– Patricia Taylor

Such a large part of each others early career years, I always describe my relationship with Vic, by how hard we fought, how much harder we worked and how much harder still we laughed. The last time I ran into him he introduced me as his friend and all time favorite nightmare client. I loved it!

I know I am only one of so many of us who could talk for hours relating tales, and anecdotes about Vic. There just aren’t enough adjectives, verbs or nouns for us all to use to describe him. On these pages a wonderful Hawaiian word came to mind “da kine.” Described to me as the catch-all word for those moments in conversation where no further words or descriptions are necessary because our hearts and minds are on the same page and understanding each other perfectly. Where Vic is concerned, reading through the wonderful words and emotions captured here in this tribute I see that that is true, da kine.

– Kathryn Witter – Marketworks, Inc.

A Note on My Friend

Lori called me on Monday, two days after the long understood but painfully premature departure of her husband of nearly 26 years, and my friend since law school in 1982. The screen on my phone read “Victor O’Connor” as it rang, and my heart leapt briefly: maybe there’s been a mistake; maybe he’s not gone, as I had been told the day of his death. It was only for a split second, but in that same instant came the crushing realization that he was gone, is gone, and I’ve lost a valuable chunk of my personal infrastructure. I am struggling not to talk about or acknowledge how I feel about it, because I know that dealing with the loss of a friend that I saw far too infrequently cannot approach the challenges faced by his wife, his three terrific kids, his parents, his co-workers, etc. But still, there is an odd desperation to my feelings. Did he know how I felt about him, I mean really? Did I ever tell him with the level of unabashed intimacy that us “guys” struggle to show? In truth, I’m not sure.

What I am sure of is that Victor O’Connor, or “Wicoli” as I called him (you had to be there), was one of the finest people I have had the privilege to know. I didn’t know him as a lawyer, though I know he was one of the best. I didn’t know him as a husband and father, though the proof of his greatness there is evident in observing his relationship with Lori and his kids. I simply knew him as a person who – like many who have greatness about them – was focused more on others than himself. He was honest and earnest and incredibly quick-witted. He had high principles and integrity, but didn’t wear them as a cape. And he battled his health issues with such determination, success and the absence of complaint that it made me complacent about what I knew was the case. We played golf last summer, which appallingly, is the last time I saw him in person. He hugged me hello and goodbye, as he always did with his friends, and I blubbered all the way back to Kelowna from Summerland fearing what I knew to be inevitable.

Vic chose to live until death, when most people in his circumstance may have spent the time dying until death occurred. I know that his family and all of us who knew him are better for having observed how he lived his life. I will miss him forever.

– Byran de Lottinville

It was a joy to be associated with Vic. He inspired total confidence, provided outstanding advice, definitely helped smooth the waters when things got a little bumpy with the regulators, and, more importantly, was always fun to be with.

– Ted

I first met Vic in 1996 as a very green corporate finance associate. Given a good deal of rope with which to hang myself back then, I quickly understood why the powers had so much confidence in me – actually it wasn’t me at all, it was the powerful backstop that was our trusted counsel, Victor J. How he managed to give me a crash course in basic securities law while making it all fun is beyond me. Now on the public company side, I have been privileged again to have Vic and his team on our side of the table.

I can’t remember a conversation with Vic in all of those years where we didn’t share a good laugh. His voicemails and emails made me laugh. He could find the lighter side of anything; brilliant and very serious when needed.

One memory: Running into Vic in the MOI washroom just before our AGM, and realizing we were wearing the same tie.

One regret: Never being able to pick up a tab on the quick-drawing Vic; I was sure the Roca team had him beat at Rodney’s one night as I managed to get a credit card into the bartender’s hand with Vic distracted. I can’t tell you if he received an anonymous tip or just how he became aware of this potentially disastrous situation, but leaping over the bar and switching the cards in one fluid motion, he managed to keep the streak alive.

Thanks Victor J. for the outstanding counsel all these years, and for the wonderful memories.

– David J.

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