Patrick J. O'Hara, 43, died February 25, 2000, in an automobile accident en route to Moab for a vacation with his new puppy, his sister, and brother-in-law. He was a senior natural resource counsel for the Utah Attorney General's Office, and CEO of Goodview.com, his on-line bookstore that offered browsers the chance to explore "as far as the mind could see."
Born November 24, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, Patrick also lived in New York, Minnesota, Nebraska and Florida before making his home in Utah. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Florida and earned his law degree in 1982 from the University of Utah, where he was a member of the Law Review and an editor of the Journal of Contemporary Law.Before joining the Attorney General's Office, Patrick was a shareholder at Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall & McCarthy. At the time of his death, he was Chair of the National Conference of Government Mining Attorneys, and was an officer of the Natural Resources Section of the Utah State Bar.
Patrick lived fully in the present, with an equal passion for history and modern technology. He traveled to England each summer to attend a festival of traditional Anglican chorale music, and yet he also devote
hundreds of hours developing his on-line bookstore. He savored surprises. He loved routine. He thought nothing of arranging a spur-of-the-moment trip to London or Budapest, but for almost twenty years he met his friend, Tom Mitchell, each Saturday morning for what he called "grease and conversation."
He was a devout Episcopalian, serving as a member of the vestry and Junior Warden at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, and as a Mentor of Education for Mission. He served on the Pacific Regional Council for the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education.
Patrick gave his time generously to the legal profession, the Episcopal Church, and the U of U College of Law. He was active in the Utah State Bar, Footprinters, and other national and local law-related organizations. He was a founding board member of the Journal Alumni Association, and helped establish the annual Jefferson B. Fordham Debate. He was a member of the Alta Club in Salt Lake and the venerable Reform Club in London.
Patrick is survived by his mother, Eileen O'Hara, Salt Lake; his stepmother, Ruth Donner O'Hara of Midland, Michigan; his sisters Kate Lahey (Michael), Maureen O'Hara Ure (The Rev. Lincoln R. Ure), and Colleen P. O'Hara, all of Salt Lake; his brothers James P. O'Hara (Robin), Overland Park, KS; Michael J. O'Hara (Mary), Omaha, NE; his nephews Timothy Lahey (Jessica), Salt Lake; Sean O'Hara, Tempe, AZ; his nieces Heather Dunagan (John), Brookline, MA; Katie O'Hara, Overland Park, KS; his grandnephew Benjamin Lahey; and a large extended family, stepfamily, and innumerable friends in Salt Lake City and throughout the world. He is predeceased by his father Edward R. O'Hara, his older brother Edward M. O'Hara, and his beloved Golden Retriever Truffaut. His new puppy, Bergman, died at his side.
A memorial service and Eucharist will be held at 1 o'clock p.m. Tuesday, February 29, 2000, at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, 231 East 100 South in Salt Lake City. The family will receive friends at the Cathedral one hour before the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Madeleine Choir School, 331 East South Temple, 84103; the Journal Alumni Association at the University of Utah College of Law, 84112; or the Cathedral of St. Mark's Food Pantry.