Thomas O'Hara Jr.

Thomas L. OHara, Jr., 83, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, September 29, 2012. He was born in New York City, NY on June 17, 1929 the son of the late Thomas L. OHara, Sr. and Mabel A. (Sheridan) OHara. Tom is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 59 years, Maureen P. (McElhinney) OHara of Wayland formerly of Weston. Beloved father of Kathleen OHara of NY; Thomas OHara, III of VA; Kevin OHara and his wife Elizabeth of TX; Patricia Rice and her husband Barry of VA; Sheila OHara of MA and the late Brian OHara and Erin OHara. Father-in-law of Cynthia OHara of FL. Beloved grandfather of Catherine Natterman of PA; David OHara of PA; Elizabeth OHara of NY; Daniel Clark of NY; Stephen Clark of VA; Sean OHara of TX; Padraig OHara of TX; Mairead OHara of TX and the late Brighid OHara. He is also survived by one great-granddaughter Nora OHara of PA. Brother of Richard OHara of MA and FL; Jane Larkin of PA and Alice Wiebe of CA. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Tom spent his formative years in Pelham, New York and graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1946. He received his BS in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross with the Class of 1950. He was a member of the Army Reserve in Philadelphia. He then graduated from the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in New London, CT as an Ensign in the Coast Guard Reserve in 1953. He served on active duty with the United States Coast Guard for two years followed by 29 years in the USCG Reserve serving as Commanding Officer of five reserve units in New England and five group commands and retired as a Captain. He was instrumental in developing the concept of Reserve Augmentation of active duty forces and served as the senior Coast Guard Officer of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee in Washington, D.C. in both 1976 and 1980. He also served as Ombudsman for the Commonwealth of Mass for the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and also served as the Executive Reservist for the Treasury Department. Tom received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Coast Guard Commendation medals and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal. Tom began his long and distinguished career in the field of insurance as a group salesman with Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. in Philadelphia, PA from 1950 until 1953. He then was associated with the group sales division of the Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. in Boston and was a Group Leader and Consultant Cum Laude for 17 of the 19 years he was with Metropolitan Life. Tom was the Founder and President of Trans Tech Insurance Agency and was affiliated as a Vice-President of the Frank B. Hall Insurance Agency. He had resided in Weston for 31 years before he and his wife Maureen moved to Wayland. In his earlier years he was an Eagle Scout in Pelham, NY and remained active in scouting and served as one of the scout leaders of Troop 157 in Weston. He served on the Board of Visitors of the Mass Maritime Academy, served on the Board of Directors of the Hospice at Home in Wayland and Sudbury, served on the Board of Directors and was a President of Childrens Hospice International. He also served on the National Advisory Council of the National Hospice Organization and helped to organize and became the first President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hospice Organization Insurance Agency, Inc in Arlington, VA. Tom was a faithful and dedicated communicant of Saint Anns Parish in Wayland and also served as a volunteer driver with FISH of Weston. Visitations will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2012 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (Off Route 30), Wayland. Family and friends are invited to his Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, October 5, 2012 at 11:00 am at Good Shepherd Parish at St. Anns Church, 124 Cochituate Road, (Route 27) Wayland. Interment will follow in the OHara family lot in Linwood Cemetery in Weston. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests that memorial gifts in Toms memory may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. For on-line condolences and directions please visit www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com