Thomas Michael O'Leary, Sr.

Thomas Michael O’Leary Sr. age 79, passed away on December 19, 2025. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on February 16,1946 to the late Jack and Joan O’Leary, née Kappes. He attended Holy Name Catholic grade school and was a graduate of St Charles Preparatory School. After an outstanding high school football career with numerous scoring records and awards, he was recruited by many universities nationally and ultimately selected the University of Notre Dame under new coach, Ara Parseghian. To this day, St Charles awards The Tom O’Leary MVP Award to the most outstanding player of the year. At Notre Dame, Tom started for three years, was a member of the 1966 National Football Championship team, and was of part of the famous SOS defensive backfield (Schoen, O’Leary, Smithberger). In high school Tom was a lifeguard at Olympic Pool where a beauty named Suzanne Rau caught his eye. They started dating at 16, married at 22, and built a family together over 58 years. A 30-year career in the automotive industry at Ford Motor Company took them to Cleveland, Detroit (twice), Boston, and Philadelphia where many colleagues became lifelong friends. Tom loved cars. His first was a ‘64 Chevelle GT dark blue with a white convertible roof and big, chrome rims. When asked what he was known for in his career, he replied “Resolve. I would get the job done.” Tom retired from Ford at 53 and after a few more years in Detroit returned to Columbus and posted up in the Short North, reconnecting with childhood friends and auditing religion, philosophy, and history classes at The Ohio State University. Tom was an avid volunteer and committed member of his community. He was on the Board of and volunteered at Children’s Hospital of Detroit, Michigan, volunteered at Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, served on the Board of the Short North Alliance, Columbus, Ohio, as well as the Board of St Charles Preparatory and played a major role in raising money for new athletic fields for his former team. Tom is survived by his wife Suzanne O’Leary, née Rau, his children Meghan O’Leary (Matthew Herreras), Tom O’Leary Jr (Katie O’Leary, née Gallagher), Coleman O’Leary (Lisa O’Leary, née Troy), Kathryn O’Leary (Christopher LaVogue), his 11 grandchildren Jack, Maggie, Reegan, Connor, Bridget, Riley, Lucy, Colin, Quinn, Piper, Beckett, his sister Elizabeth Howard, née O’Leary (Matt Howard) and his nieces and nephews. They were all his favorite and not much made him happier than a visit with or a phone call from one of his children or grandchildren. A 9 am visitation and 10 am Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 16, 2026, in the chapel at St Charles Preparatory School, 2010 E. Broad Street, Bexley, Ohio. A reception will follow in the Cavello Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the St Charles Preparatory School Endowment Fund: scprepgive.org