Michael “Barry” O’Hara

Michael “Barry” O’Hara passed away on December 5, 2020 in San Francisco, California at the age of 85.

Barry was born in Dublin, Ireland on January 8, 1935. He spent his formative years at Cistercian College Roscrea in County Offaly, Ireland where he played rugby avidly and became a valued member of the Senior Rugby team. After graduating from Cistercian College, Barry decided to follow in his older brother Dermot’s (later ordained Fr. Stephen) footsteps and become a Cistercian monk. Barry entered the monastery, however left after 18 months when he realized the monastic life was not his calling. When he was 22, Barry emigrated to Toronto, Canada where he began his lifelong career in insurance. In 1963 he drove to San Francisco with his best friends to play golf. He was immediately enchanted with San Francisco, and as the story goes, he skipped the second day of golf to find employment that would allow him to stay. Barry met his future wife Lorraine Powell in San Francisco in 1966. They were wed in San Francisco at St. Francis Xavier Church in 1969. Shortly after, they moved to Coral Gables, Florida so Barry could pursue his love for aviation and obtain his commercial pilot’s license. After his daughter Maeve was born, he gave up flying and returned to the insurance business. His career in insurance relocated Barry and his family to Westchester County, NY from where he commuted to Manhattan. Their son Stephen was born there in 1972. In 1979, Barry was finally able to move back to his beloved adoptive home of San Francisco, where he contentedly lived the rest of his days in the Sunset District.

Barry was an introspective man with a great sense of humor and infectious laugh. He had sparkling blue eyes, a baritone voice, and could charm anyone he spoke to. He loved to drive along the Pacific Coast and was invigorated by long solitary walks on the beach. His favorite pastime was watching rugby. Nothing got him more animated than watching Ireland play against the New Zealand All Blacks. In his late 60s, Barry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Although his life became increasingly more difficult as his mobility severely declined, he countered his failing health with a greater affability, good humor and sheer stubborn willpower. Barry discovered the Internet in his early 80s. He spent the later years of his life in joyful awe of the fact that he could watch rugby from all over the world, binge western movies, and listen to his favorite classical music on demand. Barry will be dearly missed and remembered often.

Barry is survived by his daughter Maeve Rossington and son-in-law Phillip Rossington, two grandsons Drew and Flynn; his son Stephen O’Hara; his former wife Lorraine Hannan; and his brother Conor O’Hara, sister-in-law Carmel and niece Susan. He is predeceased by his parents, Michael and Kathleen, and brother Dermot (Fr. Stephen).

Special thanks and appreciation to Barry’s wonderful physician, Dr. Leah A. Klinger and devoted caregivers: Reina and Sofia.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any small donations that are made go to the following organizations: //www.parkinson.org and www.michaeljfox.org