Survivor List
(last names beginning with "O")

Nearly 7,000 circus fans attended the afternoon show on July 6, 1944, and many were fortunate enough to survive the blaze. Here are the names of some of the survivors, and also the names of those who helped or are otherwise associated with the Hartford Circus Fire, though they may not have been in attendance during the tragic performance.

Names are sorted by "last name first"; in cases of women who got married after the circus fire, their name in 1944 is used when known. The search function at the top of the each page can also be used to search the entire website for a name or term.

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O'bright, Joan (11); New Britain
  • Attended the circus with her brother Raymond and their father John O'bright, and they sat in Section S, eighth row, between seats 11 and 16. 
  • Was awarded $500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
O'bright, John M.; New Britain
  • Attended the circus with his two children, Joan and Raymond, and John's friend Walter Paskus and his wife and daughter. and they sat in Section S, eighth row, seats 11 and 16. John saw a 2-foot wide flame shoot up on the inside of the tent, about 10-fet from the main entrance, seemed to come from underneath the seats. The flames funneled out as they spread above the bleachers.  John and his group couldn't go down because of the crowd, so they went up to the top of the seats and slid down a pole. 
  • Was awarded $1,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
O'bright, Raymond (6); New Britain
  • Attended the circus with his sister Joan and their father John O'bright, and they sat in Section S, eighth row, between seats 11 and 16.
  • Was awarded $500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
O'Brien, Bill (5); East Hartford
  • Went to the circus with his father and grandmother, all of them escaped by jumping off the bleachers. Bill spent several years in the hospital and on crutches due to injuries to his leg from jumping.CFR 
O'Brien, Madeline; 399 Overlook Terrace, Hartford
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/7/44.THC 
O'Brien, Nadine; C-399 Charter Oak Terrace, Hartford
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/7/44.THC 
 O'Brien, unknown father (adult); East Hartford
  • Went to the circus with his son Bill O'Brien and Bill's grandmother. All of them escaped by jumping off the bleachers.CFR 
O’Connell, Daniel (adult); Thomaston, CT
  • Attended the circus with his sister-in-law, Annie Burns, his grandchildren Robert and Doris Jean O’Connell, and his daughter-in-law Eveline O’Connell.   The group sat in the northeast section of the big top, section V or W, and became separated when trying to escape from the burning tent.  Eveline and Doris Jean were found dead at the circus grounds, Annie Burns was found severely burned and later died from her injuries. Daniel and his grandson Robert were able to escape with their lives. 
  • Robert O'Connell's story about his family and their experience can be read here: A Circus Fire Survivor's Story
O'Connell, Mary (9); West Hartford
  • Mary Gerard (O'Connell) Flaherty of West Hartford and Bonita Springs, FL died on February 15, 2014 at Saint Francis Hospital, in Hartford, CT. She leaves her husband of 57 years James F. Flaherty, Jr. and family. Mary was born on May 28,1935 at Saint Francis Hospital. Her parents were the late Daniel J. O'Connell and Julia (McCarthy) O'Connell of West Hartford. On July 6, 1944, Mary's parents took Mary and her friend Nancy Snow to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus performance in Hartford. Tragically, it was the day of the Circus Fire. Mary, Nancy and Mary's parents were among the lucky ones, able to vacate the burning tent with only horrific memories. [from THC obituary]
O’Connell, Robert (6); Unionville, CT
  • Attended the circus with his mother Eveline O’Connell, his sister Doris Jean, his great-aunt Annie Burns and his grandfather Daniel O’Connell.  The group sat in the northeast section of the big top, section V or W, and became separated when trying to escape from the burning tent.  Eveline and Doris Jean were found dead at the circus grounds,  Annie Burns was found severely burned and later died from her injuries.  Six-year-old Robert O'Connell and his grandfather were able to escape with their lives. Robert received burns on his hand and arm, and was awarded $1,050 by the arbitration board. 
  • Robert O'Connell's story about his family and their experience can be read here: A Circus Fire Survivor's Story
O'Connor, Mary (minor); 180 Catherine St, Hartford
  • Was awarded $3,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Ofshay, Harvey "Harry" R. (13); Marlborough, CT
  • Interviewed by WTNH News Channel 8 on July 6, 2005 at the dedication of the monument.
  • Harry took the bus to Hartford, met his cousin and they went to the circus together.  They sat in the top row of the bleachers near the band.  After a few acts, the workers put up the long cages for the lions to walk to the ring.  When Harry and his cousin heard people yell "FIRE", they jumped down and escaped, ran down Barbour Street, and turned to see the big poles fall. CFM
Oleksinski, Virginia (14); Center St, Manchester
  • Attended the circus with her mother and younger sister, Helen.  When they saw the fire, everyone was trying to escape at once and the fire was getting larger.  As soon as they escaped, the whole tent came down.  They all received burns from the radiant heat.  
  • AKA Virginia Narkon, profiled in The Hartford Courant's 2019 coverage of the 75th anniversary.  
  • Went to circus with mother and younger sister - all of them just barely escaped the collapsing bigtop.CFR 
  • Was awarded $750 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Oleksinski, Helen (12); Center St, Manchester
  • Went to circus with mother and older sister Virginia - all of them just barely escaped the collapsing bigtop.CFR 
  • Was awarded $750 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Oleksinski, Mrs. Barbara (adult); Center St, Manchester
  • Went to circus with daughter Virginia and younger daughter - all of them just barely escaped the collapsing bigtop. Mrs. Oleksinski suffered burns on her shoulder.CFR 
  • Was awarded $2,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Olvier, Tillie (child)
  • Attended the circus with her friend LeAnn Dressler and LeAnn's parents and sister.  All escaped without injuries. Read LeAnn Dressler's story here:  Personal Accounts - Page 8.  
O'Neill, Daniel (7); South Coventry
  • On the "Missing List", Friday, 7/7/44.THC 
Onorato, Robert E. (adult); 97 Trumbull Ave, Plainville
  • Sat with his party in Section H, row 1, seats 13 to 16.  Just as the first act near their seats was finishing, Robert noticed a cone of fire to his left, going up the canvas sidewall until it reached the roof and then it spread. People began running and he grabbed his youngster and they went out the exit at the east end. Mr. Onorato took 8mm film footage from this location. 
Oren, Bill (4); East Hartford
  •  Attended circus with an aunt and uncle, and they all escaped. 
Orsini, Barbara (3 1/2); Barker St, Hartford
  • Attended the circus with her sister, Madeline, and their father Jimmy Orsini. Mentioned on a memorial brick.
Orsini, Madeline (child); Barker St, Hartford
  • Attended the circus with her sister, Barbara, and their father Jimmy Orsini. Mentioned on a memorial brick.
Orsini, Vincent James "Little Jimmy" (adult); Barker St, Hartford
  • Mr. Orsini took his daughters Barbara and Madeline to the circus, and they sat at the top of the bleachers.  They saw the fire above, looked like a fire log rolling toward them.  Mr. Orsini dropped Barbara down from the top seat, then he jumped while holding Madeline.  He then raced to the back of the tent and cut a slit in the canvas to escape.  After getting his girls to safety, he went back in and grabbed women and children, slung over his shoulders or carried them out.  He suffered some burns on his arms and hands, but was treated at home. CFM
  • Mentioned on a memorial brick.
O'Shea, Maureen (11)
  • Survived the fire as a young girl, thanks to the heroism of one man in particular.  Maureen (O'Shea) Krekian passed away peacefully on March 18, 2016.  [obituary]
  • Was supposed to go to the circus with neighbors, but they left without her so she went alone. (from NPR broadcast)
Ott, Daniel, Ringling Brothers
  • Listed as injured.SDN

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Sources:

TWT: The White Tops magazine
WCF: Women and Children First by Donald H. Roy
CFR: Circus Fire Reminiscences (Manchester Public Library)
CFM: Circus Fire Memories
MEH: Manchester Evening Herald
TCF: The Circus Fire by Stewart O'Nan
UPI: United Press International
SDN: Springfield Daily News
JOWBR: JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry
THC: The Hartford Courant