JEREMIAH PATRICK "JERRY" O'GRADY

O'GRADY JEREMIAH PATRICK "JERRY" Passed away peacefully in Gladwyne, PA on October 31, 2025 in the embrace of his wife of 61 years, Kay. Jerry's life and example is the embodiment of the post-war American success story. From modest means, he combined intelligence with determination to make a comfortable and happy life for his family. He then used his success to provide opportunities for the next generation and the generation after that so they could enjoy the kind of life they desired and deserved. Nothing was given; everything was earned. Jerry was born and raised in Indianapolis by his parents Michael Francis and Alice (Shea). As the son of a barman and possessing an uncanny facility with numbers, Jerry's early years provided him with the kind of street smart/book smart awareness that served him well the rest of his life: he could price a bond in his head but he also bowled a good game, he knew how to win at cards (later backgammon), and played piano by ear. After graduating from high school, Jerry matriculated to the University of Notre Dame, becoming the first in his family to attend college. After graduating, he married Kathleen "Kay" Lord and immediately headed east to pursue his MBA at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Indiana, his Catholic faith, Notre Dame, Philadelphia, music, and, most especially, Kay became the throughlines that would remain constant over the remainder of his life. Following Wharton, Jerry began work at Goldman Sachs in New York City before relocating to the Philadelphia office. After settling the family in Gladwyne, PA, Jerry and Kay became parishioners at St. John Vianney in Gladwyne and active members of the Philadelphia Country Club. Despite being newcomers, it was a soft landing as nine of Jerry's Notre Dame classmates were members at PCC and the neighbors on Norsam Road became an extended family. Once in his newly adopted home, Jerry went neck-deep into Philadelphia: Phillies, Flyers, Eagles, Nova hoops, the Orchestra, and the unofficial record for number of lacrosse games watched by a guy from Indiana. With the family, he traveled across the country and with Kay he traveled across six continents. All of this activity was shoehorned in between trips to watch the Irish play in South Bend, West Point, Birmingham, Dallas, Los Angeles and all points between. After raising their three boys, Jerry and Kay started a new chapter of their lives when Jerry returned to New York to start up a convertible bond desk at Jefferies and Co. From their apartment on the Upper East Side, they enjoyed New York while Jerry built a thriving business at Jefferies. Jerry had a passion for opera, and he delighted in taking opera newbies to performances at Lincoln Center. He remained on the board of the Philadelphia Orchestra and continued entertaining gatherings with his own piano playing. Regardless of the occasion, each performance would end with a rousing rendition of the greatest of all college fight songs "The Notre Dame Victory March." New York was a welcome interlude, but it was never "home" and each weekend they would return to their home in Gladwyne (subsequently Bryn Mawr) or decamp to Hobe Sound and their wonderful community at Loblolly. Jerry was a masterful networker and connector. Clients and customers became family friends. He had a great eye for talent, and he put a lot of people into a lot of jobs, board seats, and memberships that became opportunities through Jerry's intervention. He worked unceasingly at everything he committed to and executed flawlessly. His annual Christmas party for the investment community in Philadelphia became a decades-long tradition which Jerry would re-energize annually with invitations to younger generations getting started in the business. Jerry and Kay remain generous with their time and resources. Jerry served on both the Arts and Letters Advisory Council and Performing Arts Council at Notre Dame. Jerry's time at Wharton began a lifelong relationship with the Newman Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The Gesu School and the Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School benefited from Jerry's commitment to providing opportunities for less advantaged children. Dozens of students from around the country were afforded scholarships to Notre Dame, many through a STEM scholarship he endowed. Jerry's passion project was a program he and classmate Jim Nolen shaped by joining up with the Connelly Foundation and several other Philadelphia area alumni to create the Newman Scholar program, which has sent hundreds of Archdiocese of Philadelphia students to a two-week program on campus at Notre Dame during the summer. This proved to be a more efficient way of generating interest than browbeating Notre Dame staff to make stops at schools all over Philadelphia to extol the virtues of Our Lady's University. Among its many other residual effects, it helped prompt the Notre Dame Club of Philadelphia to award him their Clifford Prodell award. Everything was always executed with quiet dignity, although it was hard to erase the smile after receiving the Prodell award from Father Molloy. Jerry is predeceased by his parents Michael and Alice, brother John (Leeda), sister Mary Nicodemus (Terry), father-in-law Dr. Glenn C. Lord, mother-in-law Roseann Lord, sister-in-law Heather Lord, and brother-in-law Drew Barton. He is survived by Kay, son Perry (Beth Anne Boreanaz) of Milton, MA, son Paul (Meg) of Wayne, PA, and son Chris (Annie) of Wayne, PA, grandchildren Michael, Madeline, Bobby, Darby, Luke, Christopher, Jane, and Eloise, brother-in-law Dr. Thomas Lord, sister-in-law Ann Barton, brother-in-law Joe Lord and brother-in-law Terry Nicodemus. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom he cherished. Relatives and friends are invited to pay respects on Saturday, November 8 from 9:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. at St. John Vianney Church, 350 Conshohocken State Rd., Gladwyne, PA and to a Mass of Christian Burial immediately following at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be private for the family. In lieu of flowers, an offering in Mr. O'Grady's name can be made to either the Gesu School, 1700 W. Thompson St., Philadelphia, PA 19121 or the Penn Catholic Newman Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 111 S. 38th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104. McCONAGHY F.H., Ardmore mcconaghyfuneralhome.com