Raymond B. O'Flaherty

Ray O’Flaherty passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 12 2013 after a prolonged illness. Born in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland to John and Marjorie O’Flaherty, he lived an extraordinary life in Ireland and California.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marie O’Flaherty and his children Brendan (Jeanette) O’Flaherty, Rory O’Flaherty, Niamh (Ron) Pellegrini, Shane (Peggy) O’Flaherty and Ronan (Jessica) O’Flaherty. His greatest love was for his 16 grandchildren: Connor, Molly, Anya, Niamh, Christopher, Casey, Christina, Joseph, Grania, Enya, Cillian, Liadan, Orla, Cormac, Nolan and Liam. He is also survived by his brother Ozzie O’Flaherty of Australia. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marjorie O’Flaherty and his siblings, Tom O’Flaherty, Jack O’Flaherty, Niall O’Flaherty and Olive O’Grady.

Ray attended St. Flannans College in Ennis, County Claire and The King’s Inn law school in Dublin. He was an avid athlete playing Gaelic Hurling, Rugby, Horse Racing and Tennis on an international level for many years.

He began his career in administration in Ireland’s energy company, Bord na Mona, where he developed great friendships with the future political leadership of Ireland. From there, he went on to work in the car rental industry in Liverpool for Hertz and Joe Malone Car Hire back in Ireland. He was responsible for all the transportation for President John F. Kennedy during his historic trip to Ireland in I963. He then entered the hospitality industry as General Manager of a string of hotels throughout Ireland with Ranks Hotels.

In May of 1972, Ray took his family on a one year adventure to California that actually lasted 42 years. Upon arriving in California, he took to the entrepreneurial culture of Silicon Valley and founded West Coast Promotions which promoted circuses and rodeos throughout the country including the Junior Grand National Rodeo. Despite never riding a horse, he became known in the promotions business as the “Irish cowboy’. In the 1980’s, he founded Rent-an-oldie car rental. Finally in 2002, he came out of retirement to open what is now a San Jose institution, O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub in San Pedro Square, San Jose. https://www.facebook.com/OFlahertys.Irish.Pub

Ray had a great passion for all things Irish. He dedicated himself to promoting peace and commerce in Ireland and Northern Ireland. He used his vast personal contacts in Silicon Valley to connect technology companies such as Intel and Seagate to the local Irish government groups for setting up their factories and European operations. He also developed a highly successful program to have young people from Northern Ireland of different religions do internships with US companies and live together while in Silicon Valley. He worked diligently with his good friend and Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume to teach tolerance and understanding to the youth of Northern Ireland.

He partnered with Pat McMahon and Tom McEnery to form the first Dublin San Jose Sister City relationship in 1986 with the then mayor of Dublin, Bertie Ahern (later Taoiseach of Ireland). He played a significant role in developing business and cultural ties between the two cities over the past 27 years. He was president of the group from 1989-1993 and awarded the prestigious Spirit of Ireland award from the group in 1994.

Ray was deeply involved in a number of service organizations like the Optimist Club, the Serra Club and the San Jose Rotary Club. In addition to Ireland, another great passion was supporting Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, CA , where his four sons, son-in-law and eldest grandson attended high school. Ray wholeheartedly believed in the Jesuit mission of developing “men for others” and was very proud of his family’s affiliation with the school. He headed the Dads Club in 1983 and participated in annual fundraising long after his sons graduated.

Ray was a gentleman, warm and welcoming to all he met. He personified the motto of O’Flaherty’s Pub when you met him: ”You’re only a stranger but once”. He was deeply loved by his family and a diverse and interesting group of friends. He will be sorely missed by all and the Silicon Valley has lost one of its finest characters!

Friends and family are invited to a Vigil Service Sunday October 20 at 7:30 pm at Leontyne Chapel, Bellarmine College Preparatory, 960 West Hedding, San Jose, CA. Funeral service will be held on Monday, October 21 at 1:00 pm at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, 80 S Market St., San Jose, CA 95113.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in Ray’s name to Bellarmine College Prep, Financial Aid Scholarship.

960 West Hedding Street, San Jose CA 95126. http://www.bcp.org/

http://www.mercurynews.com/scott-herhold/ci_24308083/herhold-ray-oflaherty-proprietor-oflahertys-irish-pub-dies