Harvey Wheeler O’Conor (pictured), who headed Findings, Inc., for three decades and later became chair of the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT), died on Jan. 25. He was 81.
O’Conor began his career in sales and financial positions for General Foods and Procter & Gamble. He later worked in the electronics industry in Washington, D.C. From 1975 to 1977, he worked as an electronics consultant.
In 1978, he purchased Findings Inc. in Keene, N.H. He ran the company until 2012, when it was acquired by the General Findings division of LeachGarner, a division of Richline Group. (That same year, Findings Inc. purchased another company, George H. Fuller & Sons.)
In a press release, O’Conor said that after nearly 35 years running the business, it was time to move on.
O’Conor was first elected to JBT’s executive committee in 2002. He served as its chairman from 2008 to 2009. He was also part of its investment and long-range planning committees.
O’Conor served as president of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York and was active in other industry groups, including the Chief Executives Organization, World Presidents’ Organization, and the Young Presidents’ Organization.
At the time of publication, JCK had no information on survivors, other than son Philip O’Conor.
(Photo courtesy of Jewelers Board of Trade)
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