Kevin M. O'Connor

In addition to writing, Two Floors Above Grief: A Memoir of Two Families in the Unique Place We Called Home, Kevin O’Connor is the founder of the social media platform @thegriefnavigator. He offers guidance and resources to help individuals and communities navigate their journeys of grief. With a background in the funeral industry and expertise in family history preservation and education, Kevin provides unique insights into bereavement. He writes a weekly newsletter reaching over two thousand readers. Kevin shares perspectives on family-owned businesses, links to over thirty podcast guest appearances, stories about the impact of his book, the legacies of past professionals, and the significance of preserving family archives. His book is based on 700 pages of family letters from the 1930s to the 1970s. His stories recount his childhood living in an apartment above a funeral home. It has achieved bestseller status in categories such as Family Relationships, Business Professional Biography, Death & Grief, and Coming-of-Age. Before his writing career, Kevin served nearly 50 years in public education as a teacher, principal, university professor, and curriculum designer. As principal of Maplewood School in Cary, IL, he helped the school gain top-ranked state and Chicago area recognition. His last decade in education focused on advocacy programs for LGBTQ youth and the creation of award-winning K-12 Family Life and Sexual Health programs in Broward County, FL. Currently, Kevin is developing two new books: one on organizing family letters to uncover generational insights and another based on students' lasting memories from his years as a teacher and principal. A resident of Ft. Lauderdale, Kevin is also a community theater actor, with roles in Godspell, Fiddler on the Roof, and more. He and his husband have five adult sons and seven granddaughters. Kevin is available for in-person and virtual presentations on topics related to grief, family history, LGBT advocacy, death care, education, and other topics.