Nancy Kurtz O'Hare

Nancy Kurtz O’Hare, 90, of Warminster, Pennsylvania and formerly of Harrisonburg, Virginia, died May 23, 2024, near her son, Michael S. O’Hare and his wife, Ellen Sapienza. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sharon L. O’Hare.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seton Hill University, a Master Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Virginia.

Dr. O’Hare began her teaching career in Hempfield area schools in western Pennsylvania and in the College area school system in State College, Pennsylvania. Following her move to Virginia, she was director of the Speech Pathology Department at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, Virginia.

She established the first private practice in speech-language pathology in the Shenandoah Valley, a practice she maintained for forty-five years. She assisted in initiating the speech therapy programs in Staunton, Augusta, and Rockingham school systems and in Western State and King’s Daughters Hospitals. She provided services to many hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies in the area of adult neurogenic communication disorders.

Prior to her retirement, Dr. O’Hare was professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at James Madison University for thirty-four years. There she initiated the professional programs in speech-language pathology and audiology, and was program coordinator, department head, and director of the JMU Speech and Hearing Center. She received the JMU Dominion Award for outstanding service to the university and the community and the JMU Alumnae Association’s Distinguished Faculty Award. In retirement, she was president of the JMU Emeriti Association and member of the board of directors of the international Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education.

She served as president and fellow of the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia, fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and member of its legislative council, president of the National Council of State Boards of Examiners and chair of the Virginia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. She was listed int the International Who’s Who of Business and Professional Women.

Active in community organizations, she was the first president of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Disability Services Board, president and board member of the Valley Program for Aging Services and member of the Mercy House Board of Directors and the Board of the Belmont Civic Association. She had been a member of city council and mayor of Staunton, Virginia where she resided for thirty years.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Ella Stephenson Kurtz-Nancy Kurtz O’Hare Scholarship Fund, JMU Foundation, Harrisonburg, VA.

A Gathering to Celebrate the Life of Nancy K. O’Hare (1933-2024) will be held at Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from 2-4 pm.

Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyfuneralhomes.com.