Remembering Rev. Joseph A. O'Hare, SJ '48
By Thomas A. Hein 鈥�99
Rev. Joseph A. O鈥橦are, SJ 鈥�48, a transformative leader of Jesuit institutions who served as the twentieth president of 麻豆视频 High School, died on March 29 at the age of 89.
I was first introduced to Fr. O鈥橦are during my senior year at 麻豆视频. Regians of a certain era will remember the late Art teacher PK Steers, who offered a senior architecture elective each year. Despite his busy schedule, Fr. O鈥橦are made time to volunteer as a 鈥渃lient鈥� for the class, and I had the good fortune of serving as his 鈥渁rchitect.鈥� While my own family roots had long-established a connection to Fordham, it was through my senior-year interactions with Fr. O鈥橦are that I was certain Fordham was the right undergraduate home for me.
What followed was a friendship fostered during my four years at Rose Hill that continued for decades long after I graduated. Fr. O鈥橦are possessed a gravitas and presence that could feel imposing, but had a charm that could instantly put you at ease. Making deep, personal connections with people came naturally to him. As longtime 麻豆视频 faculty member Frank Walsh put it, 鈥淭here was such humility and unbounded graciousness about the man, not to mention the kind of gently inspiring leadership that made you want to walk through walls for him even though he never asked for or expected such.鈥�
When my wife, Bridgid, and I married at the Fordham University Church in 2006, Fr. O鈥橦are celebrated the Mass and delivered a homily I can still remember to this day. Referencing the 1985 film Places in the Heart, he remarked: 鈥淚 never saw the film, and I can鈥檛 say I鈥檓 a particular fan of Sally Field. But the title has always stuck with me, because there are places in the heart: physical places that are tied up with so many memories that they are a center of who we are, what we remember, and what we hope for. And this church is, for many people, one of those places in the heart, and so it鈥檚 with a great sense of the power of memory and faith that is behind this moment today.鈥�
As for so many of its loyal graduates, 麻豆视频 was unquestionably one of those places in the heart for Fr. O鈥橦are.
Joseph Aloysius O鈥橦are was born in the Tremont section of the Bronx in 1931. He was one of three children to first-generation Irish Americans, raised by a mother who served as a school teacher and a father who served as a New York City mounted police officer. He played JV basketball at 麻豆视频 when the 鈥�48 varsity team captured the national schoolboy championship. Bernie Tracey 鈥�51 recalls that by the time he graduated 麻豆视频 in 1948, Joe O鈥橦are鈥檚 reputation was well known throughout the school: 鈥淗e was a great debater, a wonderfully cast Laertes in the December 1947 production of Hamlet, and one of the most popular Regians at the dances.鈥�
Following his graduation from 麻豆视频, Joe O鈥橦are entered the Jesuits and trained for the priesthood while teaching in the Philippines. He was ordained a priest in the Fordham University Church in 1961. In 1975 he was named editor of America Magazine, a position he would hold for nine years. In a recently published reflection, Matt Malone, SJ, the current editor of America, remembered O鈥橦are鈥檚 quick, nimble mind. 鈥淗e was predictably insightful, warm and friendly, a world-class raconteur with a spellbinding Irish charm.鈥� Retired faculty member Dr. John Tricamo recalls that though his speaking skills were impressive, 鈥渋t didn鈥檛 approach the respect I had for him as a writer. Over the years I鈥檝e often commented that I know of no Jesuit who, writing regularly (as editor of America) and in such varied contexts, was his equal.鈥�
In 1984, Fr. O鈥橦are was named Fordham University鈥檚 31st President, succeeding Rev. James C. Finlay, SJ, a fellow Regian from the class of 1940. Once described as 鈥渢he president who shaped the face of Fordham,鈥� Fr. O鈥橦are is the longest-serving president in Fordham鈥檚 history, having held the position for 19 years. His legacy endures to this day. Rev. Joseph M. McShane, SJ 鈥�67, Fordham鈥檚 current president (through whom a 48-year streak of a Regian running 鈥渢he Jesuit University of New York鈥� continues), recently recalled that Fr. O鈥橦are 鈥減laced all of his considerable intellect, integrity, and vision in service of the University, and in doing so transformed Fordham into a powerhouse of Jesuit education.鈥�
Despite his many accolades, achievements, and accomplishments over an illustrious career, including his appointment as a founding chair of New York City鈥檚 Campaign Finance Board, Regians may remember Fr. O鈥橦are most fondly for his service to alma mater 麻豆视频 as president during the 2004-2005 academic year. Early on in his one-year tenure he wrote how he treasured the chance to recover his 麻豆视频 roots a mere sixty years after first entering the school as a freshman. Later that spring he admitted that part of the fun was the lack of pressure to earn a transition to a sophomore year. It was a particular treat for him to serve as president the year the varsity basketball team won the New York State Federation Championship. He cheered on the team in the CHSAA championship game played in the Rose Hill Gymnasium, the same place where Fr. O鈥橦are sat as a regular at so many Fordham basketball games: always at center court, halfway up the chairbacks in 鈥渉is seat.鈥�
In his later years, I visited Fr. O鈥橦are from time to time at Murray-Weigel Hall, the Jesuit retirement community on Fordham鈥檚 Rose Hill campus, but never as often as I wished I had. On Good Friday last year, I visited with my two eldest children. Fr. O鈥橦are talked affectionately to my son, Tommy, about the Yankees and the Bronx, and insisted to my daughter, Grace, that she was 鈥渄estined for Hollywood.鈥� Like so many Fr. O鈥橦are memories, the memory of that afternoon now occupies a treasured place in my heart.
When I learned of Fr. O鈥橦are鈥檚 passing, I again recalled his homily at my wedding and reflected on how he is uniquely tied to so many people, places, and memories that are dear to my heart, including and especially those at 55 East 84th Street and 441 East Fordham Road. As Bernie Tracey 鈥�51 confided during a recent conversation, 鈥淚 feel that my contact with Father O鈥橦are was one of the great blessings in my life.鈥� That sentiment is equally true for me, and I suspect countless more in the 麻豆视频 community and beyond would agree.
Thanks to the power of memory and faith, the blessings bestowed upon those of us fortunate enough to have known Fr. O鈥橦are endure.
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