| John O'Hearn is Mourned by Hundreds |
| Former Fire Chief was buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery on August 24, following services in St.
Patrick's Church at which a marked tribute of respect was paid by hundreds of firefighters, business men,
town officials and employees, bankers, members of the bar and of various organizations. From all parts of
New England came members of the Fire Chief's Association, led by President Guy Foss of the Wolfeboro,
N.H., department and secretary-treasurer Albert Kimball of Hingham, who succeeded Chief O'Hearn in that
office. They stood at attention in two lines as the body was born into the church and again as it was carried
to the hearse. Marching as an escort were 40 officers and men of the local department, headed by Chief
William C. McElroy and Selectmen John J. Curran and Edward G. Seferian. The pall bearers were Deputy
Chief Allan Kimball, Captain Thomas F. Joyce and Firefighters Joseph Barnes, Daniel Sullivan, George
Kelly and Richard Powers.
Chief O'Hearn was a corporator of the Watertown Savings Bank, which was represented by President Charles Chamberlain, Alonzo Huse, Harry Smith and Ray Barrett. From Union Market National Bank there were present President John Tufts and Ray Ferris. The delegation from Watertown Lodge of Elks was composed of Exalted Ruler Gerald Griffin, PER Frank Fitzpatrick, PER J. Malcolm Whitney, PER Louis Caporiccio and PER Judge Wilfred J. Paquet, who was Town Counsel when Mr. O'Hearn served as selectman. Other groups represented, and in all of which Chief O'Hearn was a member, included: Watertown Council K. of C., led by Grand Knight Daniel Fahey; Watertown Division, A.O.H., led by John Farrell, Presiden; St. Patrick's Holy Name Society, headed by its president, Town Auditor John J. Sheehan; Watertown Rotary Club, represented by President Stanley Porter, first vice president Dexter Whittinghill and Joseph A. MacDonald and St. Patrick's Alumni Association, led by President Stephan Milmore. A delegation of nuns represented the Dominican convents in this area. The solemn high requiem Mass was celebrated by the pastor, Msgr. M. J. Houlihan, with Rev. Paul McGovern as deacon and Rev. Alfred V. Puccini as subdeacon. Rev. Michael Caprio, O.F.M., was seated in the sanctuary. The organist was Mrs. George Flood and the soloist was Mrs. Marie Murray. On the way to the cemetery, the cortege halted in front of Fire Department headquarters, where the apparatus was drawn up outside the building and the bells on the trucks were tolled. Committal prayers were said by Msgr. Houlihan, assisted by Fathers McGovern and Puccini. Arrangements were in charge of the W. H. Thomas Funeral Home 75 Galen Street. |
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