Jacques (Jack) M. O'Hara M.D.

A life well lived; a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, a doctor to many, a friend to anyone he ever met, a person who touched the lives of so many people in so many ways, and most importantly a man whose heart and life, belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ, who welcomed Jack home on May 17, 2019.

Born in Wellsville, Ohio, on August 18, 1928, the youngest of four children of Delmar T. O’Hara, Sr. and Blanche (Mylar) O’Hara. Jack was an Eagle Scout in Troop 19 in Wellsville, and a 1946 graduate from the Peddie School. He graduated in Pre-Med from Denison University in 1950, and the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine in 1955 where he met and married (1955) the love of his life, and his lifetime private R.N., Patricia (Shafer) O’Hara. His internship and residency started at Ohio State University Hospital in 1955, and was interrupted by two years in the United States Air Force Medical Corp where he served as a Captain. Returning to the Ohio State University Hospitals he completed his residency in 1961. 

Jack started his medical practice in Dayton in 1961, initially Craig, Parker, Sando & O’Hara would become Miami Valley Physicians, and later with Digestive Care. Jack started the gastroenterology department at Miami Valley Hospital and was one of the initial gastroenterologists in Dayton, Ohio, eventually retiring in 1991 and enjoying life on the farm in Adams County. During retirement Jack spent his time being an avid bird watcher, becoming a historian of the Civil War and duck hunting with his sons, grandsons and good friends.

During his 30 years in practice, he was also an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Wright State University Medical School, and he and his wife volunteered their medical skills by providing medical services weekly at a volunteer medical clinic they established at the Dayton Gospel City Mission. Jack was a member of the American and Ohio Medical Associations, the Ohio Society for Internal Medicine, Christian Medical Association, and he was a senior member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Jack was a Paul Harris fellow of the Dayton Rotary Club and a Trustee of the Adams County Historical Society.

Jack is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patricia (Shafer) O’Hara, children; Peggy (James) Chalker, Mark O’Hara, Kent (Susan) O’Hara, grandchildren; Stephanie, and Austin (Kelsey) O’Hara, Carrie (Austin) Featherstone, Jack Chalker, and Kate O’Hara, and great grandchildren Maelyn and Leah O’Hara.

A funeral service will be held on May 25, 2019 at 12:30 under the direction of the Thompson-Meeker Funeral Home at the Grace Fellowship Church in Peebles, Ohio, where Jack was a faithful member. Viewing will be from 10 a.m. until noon, also on May 25, 2019. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, Versailles, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Fellowship Church, or the Adams County Historical Society.

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