John Patrick O'Hagan

John Patrick O’Hagan – conversationalist, history teller, memory maker, and life-long learner – died peacefully and surrounded by family at 88 years old. Over the last year, John was weakened by heart failure; he died on January 24, 2026 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium, Maryland, from complications from a fall.

John was born on July 9, 1937 to John O’Hagan, a distributor of Berger cookies, and Mary Regina O’Hagan (Mulgrew), a homemaker. The family lived on Eager Street across from the state penitentiary in Baltimore’s Irish 10th Ward. John attended St. John the Evangelist Catholic School and was a proud alum of the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. His enthusiastic recitations of the Poly Fight Song, Poly Yell, and G E - H E E G E - H A A cheer have been successfully passed down to his youngest daughter and granddaughters. In 1958, John graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.

In summer of 1957, John met his future wife, Eileen Mary Gayo, at a square dance on the roof of the local YWCA. They had three children and were married for 52 years before her death in 2012. John was a humble, patient father who helped with homework (but needed plenty of scrap paper), seemed unflappable when faced with teenage angst and frustration, and served as his children’s biggest cheerleader. He continued encouraging and loving as the family grew larger. Grandchildren were treated to milkshakes made by JP in a mint-green Hamilton Beach milkshake mixer, original bedtime stories, and adventures to art museums and musicals. Fun times became traditions – beach weeks with cousins in Ocean City, trips to Westmoreland State Park and Skyline Drive, and large family vacations centered around the FIFA Women's World Cup.

John was employed by the Baltimore District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 38 years, serving as the Operations Division Chief from 1971 through his retirement in 1997. He received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award. In retirement, John reminisced often about the talented people he worked with at the Corps and expressed gratitude for such a fulfilling career with such great people.

After his retirement, John tutored students at Mother Seton Academy and St. Ignatius Loyola Academy. In 2000, he joined the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC), spending 16 hours a week at St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center on 25th Street. The camaraderie and energy of the younger generation of volunteers (and their IT expertise) made the 20 years he spent volunteering there a joy. John often said that his work at St. Ambrose with Frank Fischer and the staff was the most rewarding activity he could imagine in retirement.

Nine years ago, John moved to Mercy Ridge Retirement Community in Timonium. He thrived in his new home – friends; meals at the ready; ice cream on tap; a game of Hearts on Tuesday; play reading on Thursday; and, most of all, a loving and caring community.

John is predeceased by his wife Eileen and his big brother and sister Thomas Leonard O’Hagan and Mary Ellen Medved. He is survived by his children Mary Patricia Lowe (Cortney), John Michael O’Hagan (Lisa), and Kathleen O’Hagan Adams (Thomas); four granddaughters, Katherine Grace Lowe (Austin), Megan Eileen Lowe, Sarah Virginia Adams, and Caroline Eileen Adams (Mattheos); one great granddaughter, Sora Eileen Davis; and one soon-to-be great grandson.

John donated his body to the Maryland Anatomy Board. Family and friends will honor and celebrate John’s life on Saturday, February 7th at 10 a.m. at the Carmelite Monastery of Baltimore, 1318 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, Maryland 21286. Parking is limited; please carpool if possible. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s memory to the Carmelite Monastery, 1318 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, Maryland 21286.

The service will also be available via live stream at the following URL: [Funeral Service Live Stream](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nDEX1vszSayhN-gcGb22bA*/registration__;Iw!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!IUpgwmeaNsHaWekrlHTJS2jOBk1SOnuaZv2oIO3LG7kzE7bUnWosWqhwFGnidckc2jPSKCs6PT8CVi3r5_7uAneVBq7-Eiig$).