(From Parker Mortuary)It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Ocean O’Connell on December 28, 2023, by suicide after a long struggle with his mental health. He was 22. Ocean lived a very full life.
Ocean was born in Lewiston, Maine. At the age of three months, he accompanied his mother, Karima Rizk, to Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, where he was well known to and loved by fellow undergraduate students and faculty alike.
Ocean attended Montessori preschool and kindergarten in Silver Spring, MD. Karima and Ocean’s father, Rob, enjoyed taking Ocean to the many museums and cultural events in the nation’s capital, such as the National Zoo and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Ocean could trace his deep love of aircraft, tanks, submarines, and war history back to this time.
Ocean spent his elementary school years in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It was during this period, his younger sister, Lily, was born. These years were largely carefree for Ocean and some of his happiest.
Ocean spent his elementary school years in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It was during this period, his younger sister, Lily, was born. These years were largely carefree for Ocean and some of his happiest.
Living in the Middle East broadened Ocean’s world view and he enjoyed many adventures, including riding camels, swimming with dolphins, camping in the desert, ascending the world’s tallest building, riding the world’s fastest roller coaster, and kayaking in the mangroves. Ocean was fortunate to have traveled to Egypt, Oman, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Canada during this time.
Some of Ocean’s richest experiences were as a Cub Scout, and later a Boy Scout, in Troop 0036 Abu Dhabi. Through scouting, he formed close friendships, built derby cars and rain gutter regatta boats, camped in the desert (including once waking up to a wild camel outside his tent), assisted with turtle egg preservation, and learned survival skills and what it meant to be an American living abroad.
Ocean and his family later relocated to Western Massachusetts during his middle school years. He graduated from Northampton High School in 2019. During his high school years, Ocean developed a passion for technology and was a proud member of the Blue Devils robotics team.
Some of Ocean’s richest experiences were as a Cub Scout, and later a Boy Scout, in Troop 0036 Abu Dhabi. Through scouting, he formed close friendships, built derby cars and rain gutter regatta boats, camped in the desert (including once waking up to a wild camel outside his tent), assisted with turtle egg preservation, and learned survival skills and what it meant to be an American living abroad.
Ocean and his family later relocated to Western Massachusetts during his middle school years. He graduated from Northampton High School in 2019. During his high school years, Ocean developed a passion for technology and was a proud member of the Blue Devils robotics team.
Ocean spent his young professional life working in doggie daycare and machine tooling. He attended precision machine tooling classes at Central Maine Community College. Ocean spent the last couple years of his life in Joplin, MO, where he went by the name “Kayden” and resided with Stephanie and Othellis “Tre” Roper.
Ocean will forever be remembered as a funny, intelligent, polite young man beloved by his family.
He is survived by his mother, Karima Rizk; father, Robert O’Connell; and sister, Lily; as well as his maternal grandmother, Judith Rizk; his paternal grandparents, JoAnn and Raymond Jalbert; his maternal uncle, aunt, and cousins Robert, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Katherine Rizk; and great-maternal aunt, Marilyn Cowan.
A Remembrance of Life ceremony will be held for Ocean at a future date. Friends and family are invited to share photos and stories of Ocean’s life at
https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/OceanOconnell/.
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