The Loss of an Icon
By Hilary Baar
On May 19th, I attended Mike O’Hara’s funeral but truly it was billed (and did deliver) as a celebration of his life. Although, I wasn’t a close friend of Mike’s, from the time I became a DMAW member almost 20 years ago, Mike was always an (or rather, the) icon. He was always the one wearing the suit that I wondered where it was purchased (the green one surely came directly from a leprechaun), crying whenever he had to speak publicly and more importantly, he was always the one that was willing to support anything DMAW or DMAW/EF related either financially or in person (usually both). 
For more stories, you only have to turn to Sherry Marshall, Pat Silver, Jinny Fleischman, Liz Murphy or a host of DMAW members to hear about Mike’s truly individual and bigger-than-life character. In the July issue of Advents, be sure to read about Mike’s life to get a true appreciation of the man behind the icon.
It was a beautiful celebration, as it should have been … it was standing room only in the church (I did have trouble finding a parking spot).
Mike’s family and friends are dealing with their grief and my thoughts and prayers are with them. I do hope we can all find peace in knowing that Mike’s time with us was always memorable and special.
Mike, I will never be able to celebrate St Patrick’s Day without thinking of you!
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland
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Hilary Baar is an Account Director at The Lukens Company and member of the Direct Marketing Association of Washington