John Stephen O’Hara, 95, passed away March 15 in Tallahassee, Florida. He was born September 28, 1918, in a farmhouse in Goodels, Michigan. One year later he moved to Florida with his parents in a Model T Ford and grew up in New Port Richey, Florida, where he graduated from Gulf High School. John graduated from the University of Florida in 1946 after three years of military service in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
John dedicated his professional career to the State of Florida as an economist and statistician, beginning with the Florida Industrial Commission in 1946 until his retirement in 1982. He served as Chief of the Bureau of Research and Analysis for the Department of Labor and Employment Security in the last twelve years of his career.
John and his wife, Ann, loved camping, hiking and canoeing with their nine children. Their travels and adventures continued long after John’s retirement, all over the U.S., Central and South America, and Europe. They were charter members of the Good Sam of Tallahassee camping club and spent many years square dancing with the Tallahassee Twirlers.
John was active in the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus for many years and served as Grand Knight of Father Hugon Council for two years.
John is survived by his wife, Ann Rhoads O’Hara, and their nine children: John Stephen O’Hara, Jr. (Jeri) of Jacksonville, FL; Janis Spitzer (Phil) of Tallahassee; Vicky O’Hara (Gerry Meyerman) of Ridge, Maryland; and Debbie Grant (Kevin); David Bruce O’Hara (Kathy); Ellen O’Hara; Suzanne Hancock (Manuel Villegas); Cathy Kendall (Roby); and Rebecca O’Hara (Ron Greenstein), all of Tallahassee. John is further survived by his 19 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and scores of in-laws, outlaws, and hangers-on (the door was always open). Dad was the only statistician in the family, so with him gone we cannot be held to accuracy.
Arrangements under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.
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