Former Captain of Bethel PD, James Patrick O'Hara, 72, Passed Away

Obituary courtesy of Hull Funeral Home

James Patrick O’Hara, age 72, a lifelong resident of Bethel, died Sunday, February 21, 2016 at Regional Hospice Center, Danbury. He was the husband of Ellen D. (Knudsen) O’Hara.

Jim was born in Danbury, CT August 29, 1943, son of the late Rosalyn A. (Peters) Birdsall and George T. Birdsall. He served in the US Air Force and the US Marine Corps Reserves.

He was a Police Officer with the Bethel Police Department and served 20 years as Captain. He was recognized by the State of Connecticut Governor and Legislature for outstanding service to the Town of Bethel. He was a former Director of the Bethel Chamber of Commerce, former President of the CT Narcotic Enforcement Assn., former President of the Bethel Fish & Game, member of Elks Lodge #120, Past President of the International NEOA, Past President of the Bethel Police Benevolent Assn. and Past Co-Chair of the Bethel Community Care Day. He was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Bethel and volunteered with the Carnival Committee for 25 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping and loved to sing and play his saxophone to fifties music.

In addition to his wife of 52 years, he is survived by his daughter: Tammy Lee Butlin and her husband Christopher of Atlanta, GA; son: James T. O’Hara and his wife Sarah of Danbury; and grandchildren: Mallory Lee Blair and her husband Robert of Fort Stewart, GA, Savannah Lee Butlin of Atlanta, GA, James Patrick O’Hara and Jack Thomas O’Hara both of Danbury.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel, CT, on Friday, February 26, 2016 at 10:00 AM. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bethel.

The family will receive friends at the Bethel Funeral Home, 215 Greenwood Ave., Bethel, Thursday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 and in the evening from 7:00 to 9:00.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 Milestone Rd., Danbury, CT 06810 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.