Donald Joseph O'Leary

Donald J. O'Leary of Alexandria, VA, passed away on August 14, 2023, after a courageous fight against dementia. He was born on March 19, 1931, in the Bronx, New York, to the late John and Mary O'Leary, the first of four children. Mr. O'Leary graduated from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 1952 and received his law degree there in 1956. Mr. O'Leary received a Master's degree from the School of City and Regional Planning of the University of California, Berkeley in 1970. Mr. O'Leary began his career as a Trial Attorney with the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. He went on to key executive positions with several NYSE and private corporations, including counsel and Managing Director with the Del Webb Corporation and Vice President of Castle & Cooke subsidiary Oceanic Properties in California. He was the first General Manager of The Sea Ranch, a 5200-acre planned community in Northern California. He developed and managed residential and other projects in the United States, Mexico and the Philippines. Mr. O'Leary was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army on active duty and a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. His extensive community service included leadership positions with the Marin County Human Rights Commission, the City of Tiburon (CA) Planning Commission, the Council for Civic Unity of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Western Art Council of the Desert Museum in Palm Springs.

Mr. O'Leary is survived by his wife of 27 years, Barbara (Strand); daughter Karen (William Abrams) of Seattle; son Kevin (Elaine Schweitzer) of Taos, NM; granddaughters Kathryn and Alexandra, and their mother, Karla; sister Maureen (Crinnion) of Mt. Laurel, NJ; stepsons Jeffrey Larroca (Shannon) of Arlington, Mark Larroca (Cicela) of Sevilla, Spain, Raymond Larroca (Meleah) of San Francisco, and stepdaughters Gail Larocca of New York and Denise Sheehan (John) of Wilmington, NC; seven step-grandchildren; and many loving nieces, nephews, and other family and friends who adored him. He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Loris (Leedy); sister Eileen (Devine); and brother Kevin.

No man was kinder nor more positive than Mr. O'Leary, who always had a good word for everyone and never said a bad word about anyone. He was a life-long learner and a world traveler with friends everywhere. He had a particular love of Mexico, where he had homes in Puerto Vallarta and Baja California. He took great delight in sharing his vast knowledge of U.S. history. He loved his family and was very proud of them. He was a wise and gentle man.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 18, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 228 South Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Paul's or to the charity of your choice.