James Arthur O'Leary Esq.

We have all heard it: “They don’t make guys like that anymore.” The jury remains out on its accuracy. The saying still suggests a couple of truths: many a person have lived great lives, and that level of greatness is estimatable only upon life’s completion. Jim O’Leary was one of those guys.

Jimmy was “made” a week into World War II – on an unseasonably warm December 1941 morning, which doubled as the 150th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. Our country is great, probably the greatest to grace the planet. Its greatness, however, is achievable only to the extent it is comprised of great people. Jim O’Leary – a living embodiment of “God, Family, Country” – was one of those people.

Born in Providence amid the Silent Generation, Jim called idyllic Edgewood home. During those post-Depression years, parents James and Lucy instilled many lessons that would come to define him: devout Catholic faith, patriotism, family, unwavering commitment, work ethic, and dignified respect for all. Another five years brought Jim another lesson: the role of big brother to newly-born sister Mary Ann. Youth found them just a stroll from St. Paul Church and School, and a sea breeze away from Edgewood Yacht Club. Jim’s mid-century early years alternated between both, learning Latin up Broad Street and racing Beetle Cat boats athwart Narragansett Bay.

The Bay is not only Rhode Island’s greatest natural resource, but also launched one of its historic love stories. Jim and buddy Dave just could not seem to capture those first-place regatta trophies. That hardware inevitably belonged to Edgewood Commodore’s daughter Jeanne Ellis. Ever the dutiful student, Jim took to yet another invaluable lesson: If you can’t beat her, join her! It was 1958. Teenaged Jim and Jeanne became an item, and never looked back.

By then, Jim was a member of the Class of 1959 at all-boys Lasalle Academy, or as some might then have said, Providence College preparatory school. James Senior, a doctor, laid the gauntlet. First, a “gift”: he would pick up the educational-expense tab. Second, a condition: education means Medical School. Having none of that, Jim had other ideas, notably exercise of a real parental gift already bestowed on him: rugged independent thinking. His vocation was channeling communal service through two early loves – the practice of law, and employment by none other than … himself.

Next stop was Providence College, where Jim self-proclaimed his “major”: Socialization. President of his Class and the Friars Club, as well as Army ROTC member and drill team captain, Jim also wrote for The Cowl newspaper. The Sixties Broad Street Providence bus route saw a frequent rider in Jim. His “younger” sweetheart Jeanne still needed to graduate as the last class of the consolidated Cranston high school, until she joined him in Providence studying education.

Upon his 1963 college graduation, Jim completed the then-famous Rhode Island trifecta – matriculating at Suffolk Law School. Jeanne was a regular visitor in Boston’s Cleveland Circle, until Jim’s own father (predeceased by Jim’s mother Lucy) passed during his second year. He teamed back up with sister Mary Ann and Jeanne in Edgewood. Jim’s exam passages owed a great deal to his textbook-reading aboard the Providence/Boston commuter rail.

Jim’s mid-1960’s were visited with regular calls from the Army. Headed to Vietnam, Jim simply wanted to make the trip with his law degree. Within weeks of fulfilling his decade-long dream of adding Juris Doctor to his name, Jim embarked for Ben Tre. Captain O’Leary, with a specialization in Intelligence, commanded a platoon through many missions, including the Tet Offensive. Exchange of transcontinental letters with Jeanne remained his favorite activity during the entirety of his yearlong South Asian tour.

The real Summer of Love, in Jim’s world, occurred a year later. In June 1968, uniform-clad Jim traversed the Pacific Ocean and San-Francisco protests en route to a surprise visit right back to Jeanne’s Alhambra-Circle doorstep, marriage proposal in hand! Three weeks thereafter, the happy couple made it official, and unofficially turned St. Paul Church into the happiest place in the world.

Ready to take on that world, Mr. and Mrs. O’Leary became southerners, as the newest residents at the sprawling Fort Bragg military base. By then an accomplished graduate herself, Jeanne taught fourth-grade North Carolinians the finer points of mathematics as well as a Rhode Island accent. Ever the Rhode Islanders, Jim and Jeanne heard the Ocean-State siren calls, and returned, Jim with a shirtful of commendation medals, including a Medal of Honor and Bronze Star.

Delightedly back – again – in Edgewood, the couple was intent on adding a few more O’Learys. By 1972, a pregnant Jeanne and Attorney O’Leary eyed a former West Warwick farming community that one of Jim’s clients was turning into the newest development off then-“country” Bald Hill Road. The house – situated on Mark Fore Drive, a street atop Arctic Hill named by Jim based on its proximity to Valley Country Club – was completed a month before son Sean was born.

Oldest daughter Erin followed a quick eighteen months later, and daughter Tara arrived three years hence. With all three kids enrolled at Saint James School, Jim and Jeanne became Saint James parish fixtures for three-plus decades – from finance committee, ushers, catechism classes, bingo, scout instruction, school and volunteer trips, eucharistic ministry, lecturing, and alter service. Final daughter Meghan followed in 1983, rounding out the O’Leary clan, and necessitating a Mark-Fore house addition. Jim and Jeanne raised the kids like they were raised: do it all, have fun, help others, and learn some life lessons in the process. Rumor had it that a 1980’s game, competition or ceremony was not considered bona fide without attendance by Jim/Jeanne – who never disappointed once.

All the while, Jim lived his American dream. Opening his law office in the heart of downtown Providence, Jim conducted more real-estate closings than anyone. Known for his impeccable demeanor, judgment, professionalism and wisdom, Jim attracted scores of clients and young attorneys like. Soon presiding over his own burgeoning firm, Jim still never missed morning mass, dinner or a sports game. He certainly never missed a Summer weekend day, the chance to combine all favorites – Jeanne, the kids and sailing from East Greenwich Yacht Club – aboard the “Irish JJEST” (Jim/Jeanne/Erin/Sean/Tara), trailing the dingy “Meghan”. During Nor’easter season, the O’Learys became frequent visitors to their second home in Stuart, Florida.

To the end, Jim was a dealmaker in all things real estate. A legal unicorn of sorts, Jim alone possessed the combined real-estate ownership, management, development and multi-family representation experiential acumen with which most entire departments could not compete. The consummate counselor and unofficial pro-bono-hour record-holder, Jim served through law. He had a particular interest in nonprofits, low-income housing, disability assistance and start-up companies. Throughout his professional career, Jim incredibly had time to serve all of his alma maters in considerable volunteer capacities. Jim spent his last fifteen years in legal practice with his son Sean. Even after a half-century-plus of dedicated service to an enormous stable of grateful clients, Jim pronounced his legal-practice satisfaction with his unmistakable conviction: “I feel like I have never worked a day in my career.”

The millennium-turn signaled another familial turn of the corner – children’s marriages and yes, grandkids for the newly-anointed Papa! Tara and husband Mark Bergeron, Erin and husband Kevin Casey, and Sean and wife Jennifer respectively brought Grace, Ella, Lily, Keira, Conor, Jake and Matthew. Mark Fore Drive was once again alive with basketballs, baseball bats, hula hoops, volleyball games, cheerleading pompoms, karate gis, and Irish step-dancing. Jim was additionally the proud possessor of the most magnificent collection of grandkid-gift-collection of trolls, Grinch items, lawn blow-ups, and talking and singing figurines. Jim and Jeanne were once again sideline sport bearers, albeit now the traveling kind (far, by Rhode-Island standards!), from Scituate, to South Kingstown, to East Greenwich, and as always, back to Edgewood.

A true testament to the familial bond forged by Jim and Jeanne, all three generations lived within a lunchbreak trip of the West-Warwick homestead – from which Jim and Jeanne have never left. Without fail, virtually every day of every year has joyously brought kids and friends aplenty through the front door, preferably and usually unannounced, to find Jeanne preparing endless amounts of food for all, and Jim never permitting an empty refreshment. For the past two decades, Jim and Jeanne have been devoted Christ-the-King parishioners, with Jim serving as lector, Jeanne as eucharistic minster, and Meghan as an altar server.

On Wednesday, Jim – with angels enthusiastically tugging at his arms – peacefully left his enriched and full earthly life, surrounded by his entire family. His soul’s assent was undoubtedly celebrated by his heavenly family, congratulating him on a life which he could not have lived better.

An inceptionally old soul, young Jimmy knew his precise life objectives with distinct clarity. Jim then committedly conducted a three-quarter-century masterclass in the varied pursuits which were fortunate enough to receive his embrace, and virtuoso balance of all. He left every solitary person better than he found them. Just ask them. Or better yet, if you refrain from asking, they will tell you because Jim never would. Maybe they really don’t make guys like this anymore.

Come Monday, Jim’s physical body will exit Christ the King a final time. He will be interred in the Veterans Cemetery among his fellow ex-servicemen with full military honors. Countless family members and friends will gather, telling stories until hoarse, as his ever-present spirit and memories shall endure. Jim, as he should, will grin at it all; order a heavenly Guinness; and need say little more beyond “God, Family, Country.” Just as planned. Just the way he liked it.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org/