Neighborly love

Deepa Bharath

Two years ago, the Connors were the lifeline of the Vista Trucha

neighborhood.

Tom and Susan Connor and their nine children touched the lives of at

least a dozen families on the winding street over a short time, and

neighbors were devastated when the family moved to New York.

But the Vista Trucha community has rallied around the Connors since

Tom Connor, 61, died of a sudden heart attack Thursday evening while

playing basketball with a friend.

The Connors rode cross-country in a truck two weeks ago and were

staying in a motel in Costa Mesa while Tom Connor was hoping to find a

job, which he did. Connor had also arranged for his family to move into a

house in Mission Viejo.

His death has turned his family members’ lives upside down. The

landlord of the Mission Viejo home has since canceled the lease.

Neighbors say the family has meager savings and no income with their sole

breadwinner gone. Their clothes are packed away in U-Haul boxes, and

neighbors are taking turns hosting the family.

But on Tuesday afternoon, the entire family and the community gathered

at a memorial service for Tom Connor. Susan Connor played the piano as

daughters Sarah, 18, and Shiloh, 19, sang hymns. Each member of the

family delivered his or her eulogy.

“My dad watched TV with me,” said Faith Connor, 7. “He’d hug me, kiss

me and tell me how much he loves me. I’ll miss him very very much.”

Many of their former neighbors sat with tears in their eyes as they

heard the children talk about their father.

“They meant a lot to our neighborhood,” Dave Gronendyke said. “They

are quite a force.”

Vista Trucha is home to several families with children. And the

Connors had children of all ages -- from 7 to 21.

“With that many children, they’re all in and out of people’s homes,”

Kathy Schiesser said. “They just could not help being in everyone’s life

around here.”

Susan Connor taught piano, and Schiesser’s son learned from her.

“When he heard they were back, he was asking me if he could learn from

her again,” Schiesser said.

Neighbor Margery McEligot is not surprised by the community support

offered to the Connors.

“This is what old-fashioned community is about,” she said. “When

something happens to somebody, everybody feels it.”

Margaret Holzmann said she felt the family’s pain.

“My father died when I was 6,” she said. “But I know this family will

get through it like we did. You become a closer unit, you work together,

and you survive.”

Susan Connor said she was “overwhelmed” by all of the community

support.

“Who takes in nine people into their home?” she asked. “I love these

people. It’s like we’re one, big family.”

Susan Connor said she plans to get a full-time job and teach piano

lessons. But the biggest challenge, she admits, is to look for a house

that will determine which school her children will attend.

“Tom never complained,” she said. “He drove a bumpy truck all the way

across the country. The children have inherited his traits. I’m confident

they’ll find the strength to move on.”

Contributions to the family may be made to the Memorial Fund for

Thomas Connor, care of 320 Vista Trucha, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

Information: (949) 760-8318.