Joseph Francis O’Hora III
March 19, 1936 – July 4, 2015
Joseph Francis O’Hora III, 79, of Newport Beach, CA passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Born in Scranton, PA and raised in Philadelphia he was the son of Mary and Joseph O’Hora, Jr. He was an avid sailor, historian, community supporter, and entrepreneur. He and his family have resided in Newport Beach for 43 years.
A graduate of La Salle College High School, Joe was the National School Boys Champion in quadruple and double sculls at Vesper Boat Club, 1953.
In 1957 he received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He was Commodore of the Georgetown sailing team and Gaston Lecture Series Chairman.
Joe began his business career with United States Steel, then worked as a management consultant with Cresap, McCormick and Paget and Auerbach Associates in New York City, specializing in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, financial administration and organizational analysis. He and his family relocated to Southern California in 1972, where he was CFO and V.P. of finance for Collins Foods International. In 1978, Joe joined Sutton Industries where he became president and COO. His career culminated as owner of American Hardwood and Civic Data Corp., which was subsequently purchased by the Los Angeles Times. Joe was also an owner/partner of GEM Products Inc., which was acquired by General Electric.
After Marie, Joe’s second love was sailing. He began his illustrious sailing career in the early 50’s on Cape Cod. He won numerous championships racing for the Larchmont Yacht Club in Dyer Dhows, Rhodes 19s, and Shields. Joe was instrumental in the development and expansion of the Junior Sailing Programs at the Larchmont Yacht Club and Newport Harbor Yacht Club. On the West Coast Joe continued a successful one-design racing career for NHYC in Lasers, Etchells 22 and Shields. He and Marie plunged headlong into the cruising world, first on Nova, a 38 foot Sparkman & Stephens sloop, and then on Welcome Passage, a Sceptre 41. Together they sailed the San Juan Islands, British Columbia, Alaska, the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Nova Scotia, and the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to Maryland. Joe was a veteran of three Trans Pacific crossings aboard Nipigon with his buddy Mac. He was part of the Black Diamond crew, which sailed Trans Atlantic from Tenerife in the Canary Islands to Guadeloupe, following the route of Columbus. Joe developed his skills as a master chef while at sea. His exceptional sailing career spanned over sixty-five years and tens of thousands of miles.
Joe, an Eagle Scout with the BSA, left a legacy with three of his grandsons Patrick, Jack and Joe also achieving the rank of Eagle. He belonged to the Chancellor’s Club of UCI and was an active alumni and supporter of Georgetown. Locally, Joe championed the preservation of public access and use of the bay front property now known as Marina Park.
His sister Maureen and his parents Mary and Joseph predeceased Joe. He is survived by his wife Marie, daughters Maureen and Molly (Geoff), and grandchildren Kathleen, Patrick, Jack, Mary and Joe, Matthew, Bob, Paul, and great granddaughter Maggie Joe. Also surviving, first cousin Mary Anne of Memphis, TN
Visitation hours are from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 6th with the Rosary Service beginning at 6:00 pm at Pacific View Memorial Park, 3500 Pacific View Dr., Corona del Mar, CA.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, August 7th at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 1441 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach, CA.
A Memorial Service will take place on September 15th, at 11:00 am at St. Matthias Catholic Church, 128 Bryn Mawr Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA.
The family extends a heart-felt thank you to the Oncology Department of Hoag Memorial Hospital, the physicians and nurses of Hoag and Keck USC Medical Center, Care Choices Home Health and Care Choices Hospice for their professional and loving care.
For more information go to www.PacificViewCalifornia.com
In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society may be made in memory of Joseph F. O’Hora III, or to Georgetown University, Attn: Michelle Spencer.