Joseph A. O'Hare
Joseph A. O'Hare | |
---|---|
Born | Joseph Aloysius O'Hare February 12, 1931 West Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
Died | March 29, 2020 The Bronx, New York City, U.S. | (aged 89)
Education | Berchmans College, Cebu City, Philippines |
Occupations |
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Joseph Aloysius O'Hare (February 12, 1931 – March 29, 2020) was a
Early life
O'Hare was born in the Bronx, New York City, on February 12, 1931, one of three children born to Joseph O'Hare, a member of the New York City Police Department's Mounted Division, and Marie Enright O'Hare, a New York City schoolteacher and guidance counselor.[1]
He graduated from
Career
O'Hare was associate editor of the Catholic weekly
Educator
He was named president of Fordham University in March 1984,[4] its first and only Bronx-born president.[1] In 1991, he led a successful $150 million fundraising campaign, then the largest ever by a Jesuit university;[5] he ultimately increased the endowment by a factor of seven. During his tenure the University expanded in both the Bronx and Manhattan, adding 1.1 million square feet of teaching and residential space. The student population changed from 70% commuters to 70% residents and from 75% drawn from the New York metropolitan region to 60% from outside New York.[1]
O'Hare was chairman of the
At Fordham he allowed the student government to recognize advocacy groups as long as they promoted "enlightened discussion", including those organized around gay rights and abortion.[1] He also asserted the right of American Catholic bishops to stake out positions on public policy. He opened one op-ed column with the disarming line: "I would like to say a word for the right of the American Roman Catholic bishops to be wrong." He called the criticism that the bishops were trying to impose their views a "tiresome argument, an objection answered many times". He acknowledged that the rhetoric on both sides of the abortion debate was at times lamentable–"Not every Catholic will be comfortable with the narrowness sometimes displayed"–and expressed sympathy for President Gerald Ford who had been attacked by both sides for his position on access to abortion. He concluded: "It is neither anti‐Catholic nor unAmerican to argue against the bishops in this debate, but to question their right to be heard is a persistent form of bigotry." [7]
He received ten honorary degrees while at Fordham.[3] He retired as president in 2003.[8]
Civic roles
O'Hare was a trustee of the Asia Society. In 1986 he joined a study mission it sponsored to the Philippines. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[3]
O'Hare accepted appointments to several government bodies while at Fordham. In March 1986, New York City Mayor
In 1988 Koch named O'Hare the first chairman of the city's five-person
In 2003, Mayor Michael Bloomberg named him to another Charter Revision Commission, tasked with considering several modest reforms and one controversial one: eliminating party primaries for municipal offices and making those elections non-partisan. O'Hare was in the minority in opposing non-partisan elections,[18] and 70% of voters opposed the change in the November 2003 balloting.[19]
The Citizens Union of New York City awarded him its Civil Leadership Award in 1992. Common Cause/New York recognized his work as chair of the New York Campaign Finance Board during its first ten years with its I Love an Ethical New York Award in 1999.[3]
Later years
When he retired from Fordham in 2003, he returned to America as associate editor,[1] retiring from that post in 2009 at the age of 78.[3] He was President of Regis High School for the academic year 2004–2005.[2]
He died on March 29, 2020, of liver cancer at
Notes
- ^ During these years he became acquainted with Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos: "I knew Mrs. Marcos pretty well. I used to play the piano for her over in the Philippines when I was a scholastic."[3]
- ^ The Commission's mandate covered members of the Board of Standards and Appeals, Civil Service Commission, Tax Commission, Landmarks Preservation Commission, Art Commission, Taxi and Limousine Commission; also members, but not the chairmen, of the City Planning Commission, Board of Health and Environmental Control Board.[11]
- ^ The website of the New York City Campaign Finance Board does not acknowledge any interruption in O'Hare's service as chair in 1993 or 1994.[15]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Roberts, Sam (April 1, 2020). "The Rev. Joseph O'Hare, Resourceful President of Fordham, Dies at 89". New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Regis Mourns the Passing of Fr. Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J., '48". Regis High School. March 30, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g McAuley, Joseph; Di Corpo, Ryan (March 30, 2020). "Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J., former editor of America and president of Fordham, dies at 89". America. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ Maeroff, Gene I. (March 15, 1984). "Fordham University Names Editor as its New President". New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ a b "Father Joseph O'Hare, 89, led rebirth of Fordham University as president". Crux. Catholic News Service. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Steinfels, Peter (September 26, 1990). "Papal Document on Education Hailed For Support of Academic Freedom". New York Times. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ O'Hare, Joseph A. (February 8, 1976). "The Abortion Debate". New York Times. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Arenson, Karen W. (May 29, 2002). "Fordham University President Plans to Step Down Next Year". New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Purnick, Joyce (June 12, 1988). "New York Finds It's Hard to do Business above the Fray". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 9780823271528. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Roberts, Sam (March 23, 1987). "Koch Insulation: Appointments by Committee". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "Koch Names Members To City Charter Panel". New York Times. December 9, 1986. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Mitchell, Alison (January 6, 1994). "Giuliani Says Dinkins Erred On an Ouster". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Mitchell, Alison (January 8, 1994). "New Campaign Finance Chairman Quits". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "Board Members". New York City Campaign Finance Board. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "Right Man for a Tough Job". New York Times. April 3, 1998. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Cardwell, Diane (January 9, 2003). "Longtime Chairman of Campaign Finance Board Will Step Down When Term Expires". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (August 25, 2003). "Panel Approves Nonpartisan Election Plan for New York City". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Hicks, Jonathan P.; Cooper, Michael (November 5, 2003). "City Votes Down an Effort to End Primaries". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "CFB Mourns the Loss of Father Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J., The Agency's Founding Board Chair". New York City Campaign Finance Board. March 30, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
External links
- "Hall of Honor: Joseph A. O'Hare". Fordham University.