 Br. Michael Joseph O'Hara, OP
Brother Michael was born in Philadelphia on February 14, 1909 and given the name Joseph
Patrick. He attended the apostolic school of
the Dominican Order in Columbus, Ohio, and began studies at Providence College in Rhode
Island when the Depression forced him to leave school and support his family. For several years, he worked as a mimic in a
traveling circus, as well as a dog trainer. During
the years of World War II, he served in the North African campaign as an army officer. After the war, he worked as a speech therapist at
the Chevalier-Jackson Bronoscopic Ward at Temple University in Philadelphia. Blessed with a strong voice he was hired as a radio
newscaster.
In 1956, he decided once again to enter the Dominican
Order. On March 19 of that year, he received
the habit as a Cooperator Brother at St. Albert’s
Priory. A year later, he made simple
profession at Blessed Sacrament Priory in Seattle, where he took solemn vows six years
afterward. In January 1969, he was reassigned
to St. Albert’s in Oakland. In addition
to housekeeping chores at the Priory, he attended classes at the University of California,
and for five years was a speech therapist at the Ellen K. Raskob Institute at Holy Names
College. With his tape recorder, he worked
hours and hours with small children, patiently helping them overcome their speech defects.
He was enthusiastic about his work. He was even more enthusiastic
about devotion to the Blessed Mother. He took
care that her shrines at the Priory were kept in good repair, and only less than a year
before his death he managed to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes, a high point in his life. During his last years, he suffered from emphysema
and other ailments that caused him to be hospitalized at St. Elizabeth’s hospital in
Houston where he died of a heart attack on June 2, 1974.
The funeral Mass was held at St. Albert’s and he is buried at St.
Dominic’s cemetery, Benicia.
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