New York Times Death Announcement, October 22, 1946
Washington Post Announcement, October 25, 1946
Note that "Sister O'Hare of Iowa" should be Slater O'Hare, younger son.
St. Matthew's Cathedral, a short walk from the White House, was site of John F. Kennedy's funeral and in background of famous photo of John, Jr. saluting his father's casket. Click here for a photo of the decaying S. H. Hines Funeral Home and its history. |
New York City Death Certificate, October 22, 1946; filed Oct. 23
William Christopher O'Hare died at 1:55 p.m., age 79 years, 5 months, and 13 days. The certificate indicates no cause of death, certifying only that it resulted from natural causes.
Although some information is correct, such as birth date, home address at time of death, and burial date, W. C. O'Hare's father's name, mother's maiden name, and parents' birthplaces must not have been provided by his brother Joseph Vincent, listed as the informant. His brother Joseph Vincent O'Hare would have known his own parents' names and birth places, just as he would have known that his oldest brother was a widower, although separated from Lottie for many years. Why Fort Lincoln Cemetery is listed is the burial place is uncertain, but I can only guess that plans changed between the 22nd and 25th. When I visited Mount Olivet Cemetery and provided the Washington Post death notice above, office staff quickly checked a hand-written burial log and marked the recorded burial site on a cemetery map.
O'Hare Family Plot, Mount Olivet Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
William Christopher O'Hare's final resting place is in the family plot, identified by a large central O'Hare monument. He lies among his paternal grandparents, the aunts and uncle who were the last family members at Linden Grove, his father George Albert, brother George Longdon, and their youngest siblings--the infant twins who died of TB. Most individual graves are unmarked, including that of the composer, orchestrator, vocal arranger, organist, and choir director who made his mark on the history of popular and sacred American music.
The plot lies atop a hill overlooking the U.S. Capitol, White House, and monuments and across the street from the National Arboretum. |
Closing Thoughts
An interesting, accomplished man in his own right, William Christopher O'Hare also exemplifies the composers and orchestrators of his era whom time has all but forgotten. Many of these people survive today as little more than unfamiliar names on crumbling music filed in Library of Congress, university, or historical society boxes or files. A lucky few old-time composers and musicians--and that number has been steadily growing--have been revived by researchers doggedly pursuing their lives and work by digging through music collections, reading miles of microfilm, searching online databases, and sharing their findings through publications, websites, and social media with anyone interested in vintage music and cultural history.
I hope that the passion, time, and work invested in this research may encourage more people to follow their personal interests, undertake original research projects, and share them with all who find their way.
I hope that the passion, time, and work invested in this research may encourage more people to follow their personal interests, undertake original research projects, and share them with all who find their way.
Background image, top of page: old section of Mount Olivet Cemetery, including O'Hare monument