Stratford is mourning a man who worked in the Stratford public school system for 24 years.

Former superintendent Ray O'Connell died Monday at the age of 75 following health complications.

O'Connell was the principal of Bunnell High School, the principal of Stratford High School and the superintendent of the Stratford school system until he retired in 2004.

Mayor Laura Hoydick was on the school board while O'Connell was superintendent. She says the lessons he taught will be carried on by his students for years to come.

"Ray thought a lot about character, in fact, he developed the pillars of character that we used in the school district to aspire to a different way of being. And a different kind of person that you wanted to be and set out examples," said Hoydick.

O'Connell leaves behind a wife and three children. His funeral will be held this Saturday at Our Lady of Peace Church in Stratford.