Tom O'Leary

April 19, 1932 - April 13, 2017

Tom O'Leary Obituary Tom OLeary passed away in his sleep on April 13, 2017, six days before his 85th birthday. Born on April 19, 1932 in Spokane, he was the only child of Frank OLeary, a graduate of Gonzagas first law school class of 1912 and Emily McNiece OLeary, a long-time nurse anesthetist at St. Lukes Hospital. A 1950 graduate from North Central, he graduated from E W University in 1954. He then served as a Navy officer on the U.S.S. Toledo for two years during the Korean Conflict with seven months in Japan. Tom was a representative for Ayerst Laboratories for ten years, and a Merrill Lynch stockbroker for 27 years from 1967-1994. Though not much interested in exercising, Tom enjoyed participating in sports baseball as a teenager, then racquetball and squash, and later skiing and running. As an avid and mostly self-taught golfer for years, he earned a low handicap, scoring two hole-in-ones. Tom was a frequent blood donor and drove about six years for Meals on Wheels. Regretting he did not have siblings, he was most enthusiastic about volunteering with children, first on the juvenile court assisting young people who had been arrested, then as a listener for Linwood first grade readers earning a 10-year award from District 81. In later years, he served as a rules official with Washington State Junior Golf, traveling out of town when needed, always following young players in the news as they improved. Tom had a reputation as a joke teller; he somehow had the ability to store in his memory a wide range of crazy funny stories which he could at times rapidly pour out. He was a true Irishman, outgoing with many friends, always interested in talking, telling stories, at ease meeting new people, quickly learning where they worked and lived, and remembering details when they met again. If someone might say something insulting, he did not respond, not comprehending why anyone would say what they did. During a trip to Ireland, while spending a few days in Cork where OLearys originated, he fit right in, meeting, talking and joking with others, many who looked like him physically. While socializing and often at home at night, he often drank too much, specializing in Scotch. When that became excessive, a family intervention was held. Tom stopped drinking in 1990, becoming an active member of various AA groups, making close friends with a wide range of others solving the same problem. He married Marcia Van Dorn form Lewis & Clark and Whitman College in 1954. He is survived by his most beloved four children and seven grandchildren Karen (Phil) Piotrowicz and Anna of Seattle, Mike (Robbin), Brian and Nathan of Seattle, Ann Marie (Tom) Shaw, Neil, Erin and Kayla of Spokane and Jim (Janet) and Dylan of Bend. They all know how much they were loved. Throughout his life he was most active in the Episcopal Church, attending St. Johns Cathedral as a preschooler, then Holy Trinity for about 50 years where he was married and his children were baptized, and later transferring to St. Davids for 20 years and presently attending St. Andrews. Since about age eight Tome served at the altar and/or as a reader on most Sundays. He was elected Senior Warden, the head lay position at least six times and chair of the Church Search Committee for a new priest two times. He served as chairman of the Diocesan Standing Committee for four years and as chair of the Diocesan Search Committee for a new bishop in 2000. Tom through the years most always experienced good health. But somehow Parkinsons descended out of nowhere about 8 years ago, effecting his speech, walking and writing. He bore these symptoms with good will, tolerance and confusion. But on September 13, 2016 going to his mailbox about 7:00AM for the newspaper, he collapsed on the driveway from cardiac arrest caused by a massive blood clot from his hip to his heart. A crowd of early morning walkers/runners gathered as his wife was summoned, and in shock tried to comfort her inert husband. A runner who was a registered nurse volunteered as a resuscitator while many medics arrived to continue for a long period. With heparin then administered, a pulse was finally achieved. Tom was transported to Deaconess Hospital, receiving excellent care for 16 days. He was then transferred to Avalon Care Center where he continued to receive excellent care. But permanent physical improvement was not achieved. Tom was never able to stand or walk, continuing to have problems swallowing and talking. He passed away seven months after his fall. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 22nd at 12 noon, St. Andrews N. 2404 Howard. May the road Rise up to Meet You! May the Wind be Always at Your Back! The Sun Shine Warm upon Your Face! The Rain Fall Soft upon Your Fields! Until We Meet Again, May God Hold You in his Hands!