Richard F. O'Hearn

Richard F. O'Hearn BERLIN Beloved Richard F. OHearn Jr. of Berlin, formerly of Northborough and of Rockport, Maine, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008. He was born in May 1938, in Everett, the son of the late Richard and Alice R.(Shaw) OHearn and was raised in Gardner. He leaves his wife of 41 years, Patricia Anne (Luben); and three children, his son, James R. OHearn and his wife, Mandeep K. (Dhaliwal), of Boston; and his two daughters, Kathryn M. OHearn of Northborough and Elizabeth OHearn Galvin and her husband, John, of Danvers; two sisters, Ann E. OHearn of Menlo Park, Maryalice Yafrate and her husband, Francis, of Quincy; one brother, Robert E. OHearn and his wife, Jane (Eacmen), of Naples, Fla., and Sunapee, N.H. In addition to his niece, Megan OHearn, and nephews, Matthew and Dan OHearn, he leaves three baby granddaughters, Georgia K. Galvin of Danvers, Alison P. and Caitlin A. OHearn of Boston. Richard was educated at Sacred Heart Elementary and Gardner High School, graduating in 1956. Majoring in finance and military science, he graduated from Georgetown University School of Business in 1960. That year he entered into active duty in the U.S. Army as a 2nd lieutenant and was sent to Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Va. He was assigned to the 508th US ASA Group in the Republic of Korea as a logistics officer until 1962. He then joined the family at the OHearn Furniture Manufacturing Company in Gardner and worked there until 1967, when the company was sold. He took a position with David Barry Associates management consultants in Wellesley, and completed assignments at Hitchcock Chair in Connecticut, Page Industries in Washington, D.C., and Brown Shoe. In 1968, he moved on to Washburn Garfield Corporation, Worcester, distributors of pipe, valves and fittings. As manager of the corporation he instituted innovative policies that changed this traditional distributorship to highly respected industrial business. He became president in 1986. In early 1987, he bought the company, and subsequently, the Waites Co. and the Washburn Properties building. He was a founding partner of IDG, now known as I Power. For the next 20 years, he strengthened its position in local and regional markets, and established ties with national affiliates through the Affiliated Distributors trade organization. He retired in October 2008 when he sold Washburn Garfield to his employees through an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). Mr. OHearn was a member of the Worcester Country Club and served on the board of governors. He was also a member of the Worcester Club, the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, and the Worcester Economics Club. He generously supported the Adopt-a-Student Program where he served on the board. In 2006, he and his wife became the co-chairs with Bishop Robert McManus of the Diocesan Partners in Charity Appeal. He served as a director for the Seven Hills Foundation. As an active member of the Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Northborough, he supported the church and its programs generously since 1968. He was a longtime sponsor of youth programs for scholarship and Catholic formation. Family and friends knew him as Dick OHearn. From the time of his youth on the coast of Maine at Highfields Camp, at the pool in Gardner, in the halls of Georgetown, Dick always arrived with a smile and left with a friend. As an adult, whether in the army, or with the shop owners of Northborough, or with Worcester businessmen and workingmen alike, Dick was known as a straight shooter, an upright and principled man whose commitment to God, family and country was never in doubt. He loved the Red Sox and showered tickets upon his family and friends. Golf was his special passion in later years, the camaraderie and social interaction were his "hole in one." Traveling to Asia, to the national parks, to the British Isles and to the North Sea, he breathed in the history and shared his love with others. Few could keep up with him as he challenged your knowledge of current events or the latest news on the political scene. He always had a story to relate, an experience to share and a joke to tell, although he always enjoyed the punch line before anyone else. He was a classic gentleman, a doting father and a loving husband. Dick OHearn it was pure joy to have known you. Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main St. (Rte. 20), in Northborough, is handling the funeral arrangements. Calling hours are Monday, Dec. 29, from 2 to 4 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m., at Hays Funeral Home with a Mass of Resurrection on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 10:30 a.m., at Saint Rose of Lima Church, 244 West Main St., Northborough. Burial will follow in Saint Johns Cemetery, 260 Cambridge St., Worcester. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Richards memory to the Adopt-a-Student Program, 49 Elm St., Worcester, MA 01609, or the Saint Rose of Lima Youth Ministry Program, P.O. Box 685, Northborough, MA 01532. For online condolences or directions please visit www.haysfuneralhome. com.