Deputy Chief O’Hara, of New York, Dead
Deputy Chief John F, O’Hara, commander of the fire department of New York city in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, passed away quietly while he was sleeping at his home on Saturday, December 18. It is believed that death resulted from the severe exposure of fighting a four-alarm fire in Brooklyn on the night previous.
He had an appointment with Fire Marshal Brophy and when his wife went to wake him from his nap, she found him dead. When Chief Kenlon was notified of the loss of his valuable assistant, he was greatly affected. Both men were working together in fighting the large warehouse fire.
Chief O Hara was a fireman for forty-three years. He came to Brooklyn from Ireland when he was a boy and he worked for a firm that supplied feed to the fire department. In this way he became interested in fire department work and as soon as he was old enough, on January 31, 1882, he joined the department. Ilis first assignment was with Engine Co. 114 and was promoted to an assistant foreman of a ladder company. Later he went hack to command Engine 114. In 1907, he went to the thirteenth division as battalion chief and he was made deputy chief in 1909.
For three years he acted as commander of the Brooklyn department for Chief Lally, and he was appointed to this position in 1918.
He is survived by a wife, four sons and two daughters. The family home, almost since the chief was married, has been at 508 Hancock street, Brooklyn.
More than six hundred firemen attended the funeral held Tuesday, December 21. The representation from the fire department was led by the Fire Department Band, Fire Commissioner John J. Dorman, Deputy Commissioners William Thompson and Joseph Hannon, Chief John Kenlon, Assistant Chiefs “Smoky” Joe Martin and Patrick Walsh, Deputy Chiefs John Davin and Richard Marshall, Honorary Deputy Chiefs William W . Cohen, William F. Kenny, Edward J. Kenny and Robert H. Mainzer, and Honorary Medical Officer Harrv M. Archer.
The honorary pall hearers were Deputy’ Chiefs Thomas R. Langford, John T. Waldron, Garrett J. Langdon, George L. Ross, John F. King and David I. Kidney.
In addition to those mentioned, Gov. Alfred E. Smith was represented at the services by his son. Alfred F. Smith, Jr., and twins brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. John Glynn. District Attorney (harlcs I Dodd, Assistant District Attorney Joseph V. Gallagher, Ex Chief Paul Moore (now LJ. S. Congressman) of Newark and Deputy Chief John J. Sweeney of Jersey Cite, N. J., also were present.
New Headquarters for Valley Stream, N. Y.—The Commissioners of alley Stream, L. L, N. 5.. voted to erect a new headquarters building to replace the one that is now outgrown.
N. J. State Fire Chiefs to Meet—“The New Jersey State l ire ( hiefs Association will hold its regular quarterly meeting on Wednesday, January 19. at Orange, N. J. This date was decided at the meeting of the Board of Directors on December 16.
