George O'Gorman

SOUTHBOROUGH/MANHATTAN BEACH - George O’Gorman, 87, of Southborough, MA, and Manhattan Beach, CA, passed away peacefully with his daughter at his side on July 18.

Born on August 27, 1937, in Dublin, Ireland, George was the son of George and Ellen O’Gorman. His father passed away before his birth, and his mother died when he was just three years old. He was raised by the Brothers at St. Vincent’s in Dublin. He attended St. Vincent’s Boys School where he excelled at Gaelic Football, hurling, and track.

At twenty-one, George emigrated to Toronto, Canada to live with his older sister Lilly. He started a career in insurance and played semi-professional soccer before relocating to Santa Monica, CA in 1963 with his wife Noelene (McKeag), also of Dublin. They went on to raise four children in Southern California.

George built a distinguished career at Johnson & Higgins, a global insurance brokerage firm, where he served as an executive and Managing Principal. He was known for cultivating strong professional relationships and for his jovial nature. He organized the J&H Golf Invitational that became an annual tradition for senior insurance company executives around the country. He also served on the board of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for many years and was a long-time member of the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles.

In retirement, George embraced an active lifestyle. He enjoyed weekly golf outings with buddies. He joined a monthly wine tasting group in the South Bay and developed great friendships there. He was an avid cyclist—riding 15 miles daily along the Manhattan Beach strand well into his early eighties. When cycling became difficult, he continued taking long walks through his neighborhood with his son Derek.

George leaves his daughter Colleen Harper (Rob) of Southborough, MA; sons Steve (Paige) of San Diego, CA; and George (Leslie) of Hermosa Beach, CA. His eldest son Derek (Mary Ann) predeceased him in 2023. He is also survived by grandchildren Rob and Ryan Harper; Mary Catherine and Colleen O’Gorman (Derek); Blake O’Gorman (Steve); and Annabelle, Griffin, and Adelaide O’Gorman (George). He leaves behind several nieces and nephews in Ireland and Canada.

He was predeceased by his sisters May O’Toole of Dublin and Lilly Dowling of Toronto.

Services were private and he will be laid to rest with his parents in Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin.