John J. O’Flaherty
John passed away unexpectedly on April 18, 2017, at 94 years of age.
John was born in San Francisco on July 13, 1922 to Patrick and Helena O’Flaherty. He had a brother Peter and sister Margaret Mary (Leen).
John joined the 250th Coast Artillery Regiment of the California National Guard in September 1937 at the age of 15 and served in both WWII and Korea. He was assigned to the 494th AAA Gun Battalion which served in the European Theater. He was awarded battle stars from Normandy, Northern France and Ardennes. While in Korea, he pursued his passion for photography and entered the Pusan Military Post Photo Contest several times, with over 100 entries he won first place twice.
While serving his country he met Hazel Brister, a nurse, on the USAT General A.W. Greeley. The two would marry in New York in 1958. He studied at the Army Language School in Monterey, earning a language degree in Spanish and would continue his language studies well into his later years. John retired from the US Army as a Staff Sergeant in 1962.
When Hazel and John decided to relocate back to the West Coast, John took the job to drive Shelly Winters’ Cadillac from her home in NYC to Beverley Hills. He enjoyed sharing that story for many years.
John and Hazel resided in both Rohnert Park and Napa. John received a BA degree in Psychology from Sonoma State in 1965 and Master Degree in Social Welfare from Berkeley in 1967. He worked for the CA State Hospital system where he retired as a Program Director in 1985. John lived briefly in Monterey, before making his home in Sonoma in 1990.
John enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and traveled three times around the World, collecting many artifacts. He had a passion for collecting cut glass and scoured antique stores for new finds and rare books, which he enjoyed sharing with family and friends. He loved movies of many genres, classical music and attending the Opera, with the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan being favorites. He volunteered as a docent at General Vallejo’s home and Mission San Francisco Solano, both in Sonoma for a number of years. John was a huge lover of animals, he had several cats and dogs over the years. He volunteered with Monterey County SPCA where he specialized washing cats and also at Pets Lifeline in Sonoma. He was a member of AMVETS Hap Arnold Post 55 in Sonoma.
John lived for the past 5 1/2 years at Sonoma Senior Living (Vintage Sonoma), where he made numerous friends, both residents and staff. He enjoyed their Friday music and happy hour, along with the many holiday buffets.
John was preceded in death by his parents, both siblings and his wife Hazel, he is survived by several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday July 8th, 2017, 2pm, Saddles at MacArthur Place, 29 E MacArthur Street, Sonoma, CA. Please RSVP to Ronda Leen (707) 337-1402. In lieu of flowers the Leen Family requests donations to Pets Lifeline 19686 8th Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476 or AMVETS Hap Arnold Post 55 of Sonoma 126 First Street West, Sonoma, CA 95476 or a charity of your choice.