Mother: Irene McCann O’Connell
Father: James O’Connell 


I’ve been a painter off and on throughout my life. I had an art gallery in Sebastopol, California. I also had an art supply store which I sold when I had my first child.

Bob is my husband. His granfather started the first chain of movie theaters in northern California. He and I ran one of the theaters in Sebastopol.

When I was 25 I had a second child. I didn’t work again until I was well into my thirties. At that point I started a music company producing country and folk music concerts. I did that for two or three years. Bob was my helper; he did everything.

Then, I became a realtor, a job I held for about 25 years. I didn’t do any artwork during this time. I worked throughout Sonoma county and sold mainly residential properties.

After I had my kids, my painting career was interrupted. Real estate became a good business.

Bryan, my eldest son, is 40 years old. Gina is 38. we have two grandchildren: Shawn and Ryan. They just moved from Berkeley to Chicago.

Brian produces commercials in Los Angeles and San Francisco. For many years, Gina owned the tutoring school in the San Francisco bay area. Now, though, she is a full – time mom.