Siblings run for father, future
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Siblings (l to r) Jane Lizotte, Matt O'Connor and Joyce O'Connor Davidson will run the Boston Marathon in memory of their father, Francis O'Connor, who passed away from Alzheimer's disease in 2007. Seated with them are three of Francis's 30 grandchildren, (l to r) Abigail, Caroline and Matthew. PHOTO/MELISSA MUNTZ

Shrewsbury - To many people, Francis O'Connor was an intelligent, passionate Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice who wasn't afraid to speak his mind and stand by his decisions.

To the 10 O'Connor children, he was a devoted father who loved nothing more than being outside to get a little exercise and fresh air.

After a six-year battle with Alzheimer's disease caused these traits to fade, Francis passed away in 2007, and his family is working to make sure that he will never be forgotten.

Matt O'Connor and Jane Lizotte will run in the Boston Marathon as members of the "Run for the Memory" Team to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Joyce O'Connor Davidson will also run the marathon individually in support of her brother and sister.

The three have spent hours training for the marathon together, leaning on each other much the way they did during the darkest days of their father's illness.

"We'd run and have hours that would go by and we wouldn't say a word, but it was nice to know that someone was there," Jane said.

While three of the O'Connor children will run the Marathon, the others have formed a cheerleading section that will carry them all the way to the finish line.

Family members' homes have become pit stops for water, rest and a little conversation during training runs, and the mara- thon route will be scattered with family members off ering the encouragement these runners say they've grown to rely on over the years.

"It's not that we weren't close before, but the past couple of years have caused us to become even closer and this is a happy occasion to remind us of our dad," Joyce said.

The runners will also rely on the extended family they have found in the other Memory Team members.

"Everyone has a personal connection to Alzheimer's; everyone has compassion for what other people have gone through," Matt said. "It's a very hard fight and it's not like we sit around and talk about it, but running with people who know what you've been through is comforting."

As daunting as preparing for the Marathon is, the O'Connors said their struggle preparing for the race pales in comparison to the struggle that others face every day.

"The pain I feel during training is nothing compared to the pain of people suff ering with Alzheimer's and the pain of the people that are caring for people with Alzheimer's," Jane said. "When you're aching as you make your way up Main Street, you think about how people with Alzheimer's ache all of the time and that it doesn't go away for them, and you're able to keep going."

Although they're running in their father's memory, trying to save others from the pain of the disease, the O'Conner siblings wonder if they're also running for themselves, and their children.

"There's a lot in the news that this is a disease that travels through families, and you don't know what you're facing," Jane said.

This will be the second year that Matt has run the marathon to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's research. Each runner must raise a minimum of $3,000. Matt made a personal goal of $5,000, but ended up raising more than $12,000 last year.

The O'Connors have set a goal of $15,000 for this year's race, which takes place Monday April 21.

To donate in support of the O'Connor family or for more information, send e-mail to Jane Lizotte at jlizotte@townisp. com.