Roll Call Tribute

Robert John O'Leary
March 2, 1948 - November 2, 2021

Robert John O’Leary, age 73 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully at Hunterdon Medical Center on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on March 2, 1948 in Elizabeth, NJ, son of the late John Nelson and Margaret H. Allen O’Leary, Bob was raised in Cranford, NJ and had lived in both College Station and Houston, TX, prior to moving to Raritan Township in 1987.

Attending college at Texas A&M University brought Bob from his native New Jersey to College Station, where his life would take a happy turn upon meeting his future wife, Ms. Katherine Bourque. The two found a deep connection and their friendship blossomed into love. Joined in marriage on July 24, 1971 at Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Church in Houston this past July they happily celebrated fifty years of marriage to which Kathy credits compromise, patience and devotion.

Their union would bring them the light of Bob’s eyes and the beat of his heart, his two sons John and Jason. He was a dedicated father, ensuring his sons were raised with traditional values. He was so happy when Jason married Carolyn and when John recently got engaged to Jen, as he lived for his boys happiness and to see them both find their other halves, as he did with Kathy, made him extremely proud. This pride was only eclipsed by the joy brought by his two grandsons, Colin and Alex, who honor there Papa each day by how they live their own lives.

In addition to being a true family man and consummate gentleman, Bob will be forever remembered as having a witty sense of humor that made people smile in any situation. This was particularly helpful over the years as he found his own strength through several medical adversities.

A hard worker, Bob worked for many years in the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, moving back to New Jersey in 1987 for work.

Enjoying walking and exercise, he greatly enjoyed history and would certainly be classified as a World War II history buff. He was also an avid golfer, and there was never such a thing as, ‘too many’ rounds of golf.

Surviving are his wife, Katherine O’Leary; his sons, John O’Leary and his fiancé, Jen and Jason O’Leary and his wife, Carolyn; two grandsons, Colin and Alex O’Leary; his sister, Patricia Baly; his mother-in-law, Olite Bourque; his brothers-in-law, Mike Bourque '72 and his wife Karen and Rick Bourque '77 and his wife, Jolean; his sister-in-law, Sandra Dolce and her husband, Mark; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Bob will lie in repose on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m., all in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is kindly requested to wear masks at the funeral home. Your cooperation and understanding is greatly appreciated by the family.

A Mass of Christian Burial concelebrated by Rev. Kenneth Brighenti & Rev. T. J. Dolce will take place on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is kindly asked to arrive at the church beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday.

Following mass, Bob will be interred at St. Magdalen Cemetery, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ, and to which all are welcomed.

You are encouraged to visit Bob’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or online by clicking HERE, or to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated.

©Wright & Ford