Joseph A. O'Hare facts for kids

Joseph Aloysius O'Hare (February 12, 1931 – March 29, 2020) was a special kind of Catholic priest called a Jesuit. He was also a big leader in New York City and an editor for a magazine. He led Fordham University as its president for many years, from 1984 to 2003. He also helped start and lead New York City's Campaign Finance Board for 15 years, from 1988 to 2003.

Early Life and Education

Joseph O'Hare was born in the Bronx, New York City, on February 12, 1931. He was one of three children. His dad was a police officer, and his mom was a schoolteacher.

He finished high school at Regis High School in 1948. That same year, he joined the Jesuits. Jesuits are members of a Catholic religious order called the Society of Jesus. Joseph O'Hare said he was inspired to become a Jesuit by a priest named John Corridan. This priest's work even helped inspire the famous movie On the Waterfront.

O'Hare studied to become a priest in the Philippines. He earned two degrees from Berchmans College in Cebu City. He became a priest on June 17, 1961, at Fordham University. He also taught at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines for several years. Later, he earned a doctorate degree in philosophy from Fordham University in 1968.

Career Highlights

Joseph O'Hare had an important career as both an editor and a university leader.

Editor of America Magazine

From 1972 to 1975, O'Hare was an associate editor for America, a Catholic weekly magazine. He then became the editor-in-chief from 1975 to 1984. His writing column, "Of Many Things," won awards four times from the Catholic Press Association.

Leading Fordham University

In March 1984, Joseph O'Hare became the president of Fordham University. He was the first president born in the Bronx. During his time, he helped the university grow a lot.

• Fundraising Success: In 1991, he led a very successful effort to raise $150 million. This was the largest amount ever raised by a Jesuit university at that time. He helped increase the university's money (called its endowment) by seven times!
• Campus Expansion: Fordham University added over a million square feet of new buildings. These new spaces were for teaching and for students to live in.
• Student Life Changes: When he started, most students lived at home and traveled to campus. By the time he left, most students lived on campus. Also, more students came from outside the New York area.

O'Hare also led groups for Jesuit and Catholic colleges. He worked to balance Catholic beliefs with academic freedom at universities. He retired as president of Fordham in 2003.

Civic Leadership in New York City

Joseph O'Hare also took on important roles in New York City government.

• Committee on Appointments: In 1986, Mayor Edward I. Koch asked O'Hare to join a committee. This group helped choose people for different city jobs.
• Charter Revision Commission: That same year, he joined a commission that looked at how New York City's government was set up.
• Campaign Finance Board: In 1988, Mayor Koch named O'Hare the first chairman of the city's Campaign Finance Board. This board helps manage how money is used in city elections. It gives money to candidates who agree to follow rules about donations. This helps candidates not rely too much on big donors. O'Hare led this board for 15 years, until 2003. He was known for making sure the board was fair and honest.

Later Years

After retiring from Fordham in 2003, O'Hare returned to America magazine as an associate editor. He retired from that job in 2009 when he was 78 years old. He also served as President of Regis High School for one school year (2004–2005).

Joseph O'Hare passed away on March 29, 2020, at the age of 89. He died from liver cancer at a Jesuit retirement home at Fordham University. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, his funeral was private.

Many people remembered him as a great leader. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor called him "one of my heroes." She said he was "Brilliant, witty, kind, gentle but firm." The head of the Campaign Finance Board said he was "a towering figure in the history of New York City politics." He was praised for creating a "culture of conviction and integrity" at the board, making it a model for other cities.