'Living History' Interview with Jeremiah (Jerry) W. O'Connor, Jr., Builder of Westchester Mall
By Marcia Lee, Host, A Living History of Bronxville
Sep. 2, 2015: From 1991 to 2006, 123 residents of Bronxville were interviewed by former mayor Marcia Lee for the cable TV program A Living History of Bronxville. Each interview ran approximately 45 minutes on air and covered the person's service to the community, professional accomplishments, and family background.
This interview is of Jeremiah (Jerry) W. O'Connor, Jr., the builder of The Westchester (mall) and numerous other commercial real estate properties. Born and raised in Newton, MA, he graduated from Holy Cross in 1963 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1967.
He began his career at Lazard Frères & Company and with their sponsorship founded Corporate Property Investors, a private REIT. He later started his own company, the O'Connor Group, in 1983 and continued most of his efforts in the shopping center industry.
He moved with wife, Joan (Bruton), to Bronxville in the early 1970s and they sent all six of their children through the Bronxville School system. Tragically, he passed away at age 68 in 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer.
In this interview, Jerry reveals how he went about putting together The Westchester and discusses the biggest mistake of his business career.
To see the interview, click here: http://youtu.be/GDoiimN0bt0
Previously posted Living History interviews:
Walter Isaacson: https://youtu.be/4cBooa7edSE
Marilynn Wood Hill: https://youtu.be/G0D8fu-86Oc
Penny and John Barr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYAk_LmS96Q
Randy Frost: https://youtu.be/Z5RbGmBzck0
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Link to Village of Bronxville One Square Mile Monthly Newsletter
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
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793-6400
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