Dennis J. O'Connor got a scholarship to Fairleigh Dickinson University, and graduated with a B.A. in History in 1960. He went on to get his Ph.D. in Economics from the New School for Social Research in 1967. 

During his career as a professor, he held faculty appointments at Arizona State University, University of San Francisco, Humboldt State, and California State University, Fullerton, where he served as full professor for 27 years, and 11 of those years as chair of the finance department. 

Dennis authored dozens of articles and three finance textbooks with his good friend and colleague Alberto T. Bueso, but his favorite adventures in academia were serving as visiting professor at the American University in Cairo in 1970, 1998 to 2001, and finally, as Dean of the University's Business School from 2006 to 2008.

Dennis was preceded in death by his first wife, Prue, his second wife Peggy, his sister, his step-daughter, his twonbrothers and his parents Dennis and Eleanor. 

He is survived by a brother, four sons and a step-daughter, and by seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. 

A celebration of life was held on September 7, 2024.