David Glen O'Connor
An inventor, a dreamer, and a young man who saw possibility where others saw limits.
A Natural Gift for Curiosity
David Glen O'Connor was not the kind of person who accepted the world as it was. From an early age, he approached every challenge as an invitation — to question, to experiment, and to imagine something better. His curiosity was not a hobby. It was a way of life.
He had a rare ability to see connections others missed, to hold a problem in his mind and turn it over until a solution emerged. Friends and family remember him as someone who was always building something, always asking why, always looking for the next idea worth pursuing.
He didn't just dream about what was possible. He built it.
Patent Filed
Hydrogen Storage Concept
A Hydrogen Storage Concept That Mattered
Among David's most remarkable achievements was a hydrogen-storage concept that reflected his deep interest in clean energy and sustainable technology. At a time when the world was beginning to grapple with the urgency of energy innovation, David was already thinking about solutions.
His concept demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of materials science and engineering — the kind of thinking that takes most people years of formal education to develop. David arrived there through relentless curiosity and self-directed learning.
He pursued a patent for his work, a testament to the seriousness and originality of his ideas. That patent stands today as a marker of what he was capable of — and what the world lost when he was gone.
David pursued a patent for his hydrogen-storage concept, reflecting the originality and technical depth of his thinking.
More Than an Inventor
David was more than his ideas. He was generous with his knowledge, patient with those who didn't understand, and deeply committed to the people around him. He believed that discovery was meant to be shared — that the point of learning something was to use it to help others.
Curiosity
He approached every problem as an opportunity to learn something new.
Courage
He pursued bold ideas without fear of failure or judgment.
Generosity
He shared his knowledge freely and believed discovery was meant to be shared.
Vision
He could see solutions and possibilities that others hadn't yet imagined.
The Foundation He Inspired
The David Glen O'Connor Foundation was established by his mother, Nancy Mobley, to carry forward the spirit that defined his life. Nancy's quiet strength and lifelong commitment to helping others shaped the foundation's mission from the very beginning.
The foundation exists because David existed. Every scholarship we award, every grant we give, every student we encourage — it is all an extension of the curiosity, courage, and generosity that David embodied.
We cannot know what David would have built next. But we can make sure that others like him — students with big ideas and not enough resources — get the chance to find out what they're capable of.
"His curiosity lives on in every student we support."
Honor David's Legacy
Support the foundation he inspired. Your contribution funds scholarships, grants, and mentorship for the next generation of curious minds.