Roll Call Tribute

Obituary sent by son

Colonel Joseph E. O’Leary (Ret.), an American patriot, loving husband, father and patriarch of the O’Leary family passed away on September 9, 2016 in Washington, D.C. He was three days from his 97th birthday at the time of his death and left 41 descendants, including 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Joe was born in Houston, Texas on September 12, 1919 to Joseph E. O’Leary and the former Rosa Suhm. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1942 and until his death was the oldest living Yell Leader of Texas A&M. He entered the United States Army in 1943 as a second lieutenant and honorably served in various combat roles in the Philippines during World War II and again later in Korea and Vietnam.

During his 30 years of military service, Joe earned the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and Combat Service Medals for campaigns in the Philippines, Korea and Vietnam. He attended the Army War College and received a master’s degree in International Relations from George Washington University in 1966. He later commanded the 172nd Infantry Brigade in Alaska. His last assignment was as an Army Liaison Officer to the U.S. Senate.

Among his many talents, Joe was a professional square dance caller and called square dances in the U.S. Pavilion at the Brussels World Fair in 1958. Joe’s passion was his family. He created a legacy of fun family reunions on a biannual basis for over forty years.

After retiring from military service in 1971, he began a new career in legislative affairs. Joe served as the Republican Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Rules Committee and was responsible for, among other things, the inaugurations of several U.S. presidents. In 1976, he left the Senate and assisted a former Senator in establishing a consulting firm in downtown Washington. Over the next decade, he worked for several law firms before becoming a legislative consultant to Winston & Strawn, where he worked until his early 90s.

In 1946, he married the former Rosemary Walker, with whom he had four children. Surviving children include Joseph E. O’Leary III of San Antonio, Texas; Terry Dittman of Sunriver, Oregon and Kathleen O’Leary of Washington, D.C. Michael S. O’Leary of Alexandria, Virginia died in 1997. Following Rosemary’s death in 2006, Joe married the former Alice Hof in 2007. Alice and Joe lived at Knollwood, a military retirement community, where Alice still resides.

Joe will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors during a ceremony later this year.

In lieu of flowers, the family urges donations to the Jesuit Refugee Service, an international Catholic Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), whose mission is to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees around the world. Joe was a strong supporter of the organization.