Gilford----- Donagh F. "Don" O'Hara, 90, of Sprucewood Drive, passed away on Sunday March 1, 2015 at the Golden View Health Care Center in Meredith. Don was married for 67 years to the love of his life the late Dorothy C. (Meehan) O'Hara who died in 2014.
Don was born August 19, 1924 in Brooklyn New York the son of Patrick G. and Grace M. (Marcel) O'Hara.
Mr. O'Hara proudly served in WW ll in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded The Bronze Star for Heroism. After serving in the US Army, Don returned home, married, and went to work for Sears and Roebuck, while pursuing his degree from Hofstra College (University). He later taught Salesmanship and Marketing at Rutgers University. Don then embarked on a long, adventurous, career in the Oil business, beginning with Mobile Oil Company in New York as a salesman and District Manager. He then worked for Cities Service Oil Company (Citgo Oil ) as regional Manager in New Jersey and then Boston. He also was employed by Gibb's Oil Company in Revere Ma. He was a past President of the Lakes Region Petroleum Board of Trade. In 1973 Don was honored to accept the position of President and CEO for Dow Oil Company, (Irving Oil) where he worked until his retirement. He remained a consultant for Irving Oil for many years.
Mr. O'Hara was an incorporator at Lakes Region Hospital as well as The Taylor Home. He also served on the board at Indian Head Bank, in Laconia. Don was a senior member of the Laconia Rotary Club for more than forty years, and a long standing member at Laconia Country Club. In later years Don happily became a "Snowbird" where he volunteered at Naples Hospital, Naples Florida. He volunteered at Bolduc Park until his death.
Mr. O'Hara was a communicant at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, Laconia, St. Anne's Church in Naples Florida, and later, St. Joseph's Church in Laconia.
Don also loved his home, his flowers, golf, and The New England Patriots. Mr. O'Hara was a good friend and leader in the Community he loved and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him.
Don is survived by his four children; Donna and her husband, William, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Susan of Eliot, Maine, and Kathleen and her husband, Larry, of San Francisco, California; Kevin and his companion, Dana, of Seattle, Washington; and by his three adored grandchildren, Sally Szwed of New York City, Christopher DiNola of Kittery, Maine and Jason DiNola of Eliot, Maine; and his dear friends and Spiritual Advisors John and Sandra McGonagle of Gilford. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by an infant son, Peter and by his sisters Patricia O'Hara and Sheila Bennett.
There will be no calling hours.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 11:00am at St. Andre Bessette Parish - St. Joseph's Church, 30 Church Street, Laconia NH. All are welcome to attend. The Family will greet friends in the church immediately following the Mass.
A Memorial and Celebration of Don's life will follow internment in Pine Grove Cemetery in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Mr. O’Hara’s memory to the Laconia Rotary Club, PO Box 503, Laconia NH 03247.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.