Deirdre Mary O'Connor, MD (Solomon)

After fearlessly fighting cancer for five years with her well-earned, stiff British upper lip, Deirdre O'Connor Solomon died on March 6, 2023.

She was born in 1933 in Harwich, England and was sent to live with her grandmother in Dublin at age six, where she stayed until the end of the war. She then returned to England, attaining her medical degree at the age of 21 from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She married fellow doctor, Hugh O'Connor (brother of Carroll "Archie Bunker" O'Connor), and they had two children, Matthew and Deirdre ("Little D").

In 1960, Deirdre and Hugh moved to Toledo, but tragedy struck a year later when Hugh was killed in a motorcycle accident. Deirdre then moved to Boston, where she attained her Master's degree in Public Health from Harvard. She then returned to Toledo, where she served not only as an E.R. physician at St. Vincent and Toledo Hospital, but also followed her dedication to social justice by serving as Director of Medicine in migrant labor camps in Bowling Green and Portsmouth. She then became a leading innovator in addiction medicine, serving as Medical Director of Flower Hospital's 40-bed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program.

In 1970, she married Donald Solomon, and she retired in 1994, taking up gardening and travel and becoming the best friend to those fortunate enough to have that relationship with her.

She is survived by her children, Matthew and Deirdre Chandler (Peter); granddaughter, Brenna Chandler; grandson, Samuel Chandler (Erica); great grandson, Edward; sister-in-law, Sandra Kreuz O'Phelan; and nephew, Ian O'Phelan. She was predeceased by her brother, Patrick O'Phelan.

The Memorial Service for her will be private. Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

All who called her family or friend considered themselves blessed, and will carry fond and loving memories of her forever.

Arrangements by the Robert H. Wick/Wisniewski Funeral Home (419) 535-5840.

www.wickfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deirdre Mary O'Connor, MD (Solomon), please visit our floral store.