01.24.09
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Advocate staff report Brendan O’Connor, a native Dubliner who transformed the maritime services firm he started here in 1985 into a diverse family of companies that included local film studios under The Celtic Group banner, died Thursday. He was 64. Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Resthaven Funeral Home and 11:30 a.m. Monday until the funeral service at 12:30 p.m. at St. George Roman Catholic Church. Bob Bayham, who worked for O’Connor for 15 years, on Friday praised O’Connor’s vitality, energy and positive outlook on life. “He imparted that to everyone he came into contact with,” Bayham said. O’Connor left Ireland when he was 8 years old and got into the shipping business in New York by answering an ad seeking a “young man, willing to work hard.” He later used the G.I. Bill to attend Manhattan Community College at night and study international business and marketing. “I don’t think he ever forgot he came from humble beginnings, and he let that show,” Bayham said. O’Connor came to Baton Rouge in 1985 after he decided he wanted to create his own company. Using business relationships he cultivated in New York, Celtic Marine soon flourished, adding a truck and rail division. Over the years, O’Connor created other businesses, including Celtic International Shipping Agency, Celtic Commercial Services, Celtic Financial Services, Celtic & Stone Liquid Consulting and Celtic Media Centre, a film and television production studio near Bluebonnet Boulevard and Airline Highway. Today, the Celtic Group has about 70 employees and had more than $130 million in revenue in 2008. Bayham said that no matter where someone ranked in the corporate hierarchy within O’Connor’s companies, “he always had time to speak with you and offer words of wisdom.” Bayham said O’Connor was a fearless entrepreneur, but also one who left behind a legacy of sound business practices. “He was more than an employer, he was a mentor and a friend, as he was to many of us,” he said. |