Richard Thomas 'Zeke' O'Leary, Jr.
Nov. 16, 1949 - Dec. 18, 2018
Born to Richard "Dick" and Mary O'Leary in Boston Nov. 16, 1949. Died in Troutdale, Ore., Dec. 18, 2018.
Zeke's family moved from his father's hometown of Boston to his mother's hometown of Portland in the early 1950s. He and his older sister were eventually joined by five more sisters and all grew up in the St. Ignatius Parish in Southeast Portland.
Tom attended St. Ignatius School and "Zeke" as he became known, graduated from Jesuit High School in 1967 and Portland State in 1979. He had a great love for all these institutions, active in Jesuit's Crusader Crunch alumni basketball tournament for many years and sent all three of his children to Jesuit. He was a fan of Portland State football, devoted follower of the Viking baseball squad and, of course, the Boston Red Sox.
Zeke was involved in the furniture business and the lumber industry, but also spent many years in the trucking industry, primarily on the brokerage side, and the residential real estate renovation arena.
However, his greatest joys in life were the years involved in youth athletics and coaching his three children and their friends in soccer, basketball and baseball. It was a rare season when Zeke would not be manning the sidelines for at least two of his children's teams. He was extraordinarily proud of his sons and their friends who advanced to higher levels in baseball, but he probably had the most fun coaching his daughter's grade school basketball teams. He also gave countless young, hard working men opportunities to enter coaching and employment with summer and full-time jobs that started them on their own path to success. He influenced the lives of hundreds of young men and women in Southwest Portland throughout the years and most would say that their best seasons playing ball were on one of Zeke O'Leary's winning clubs. He was a fiery coach and personality at times, but there was a common refrain, "everyone loved Zeke!"
Zeke relocated to Las Vegas in the year 2000 where he made wonderful relationships with great friends, but recently moved back home to the Portland area to spend time with family.
While his battle with cancer lasted about three months, his memory will live on with his friends and family forever.
He is survived by his children, Brian O'Leary (Robyn), Brandon O'Leary and Meghan DeLand (Tim); grandchildren, Finbar O'Leary, Thatcher, Harper and Wynne O'Leary, Keira, Nile, Birdie and Wade DeLand; sisters, Kathy, Mary, Sam (Mike), Reen (Lou) and Lucy; and countless nieces, nephews and their children.
Zeke's parents and beloved sister Peggy O'Brien preceded him in death.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, at St. Ignatius Parish, 3400 S.E. 43rd Ave., Portland, followed by a gathering at T.C. O'Leary's Pub, 2926 N.E. Alberta St., where there will be stories, laughs and memories shared, as he wished.
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Published by The Oregonian from Jan. 18 to Jan. 20, 2019.