Patrick O'Gara

Patrick William "Pat" O'Gara, age 51, passed away on Monday, December 23rd, 2013, at Agrace HospiceCare, following a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

He was born on September 23, 1962, in Scottsdale, AZ, the son of Thomas A. and Julianne (McEntee) O'Gara. In 1981, he graduated from Edgewood High School, where he excelled in basketball and football. He received a football scholarship to Bowling Green University. He graduated from UW Madison. After college, Pat moved to Atlanta where he worked in sales. He returned to Madison in 1994 to work with his father at O'Gara Publishing. He led the company, growing it exponentially, taking it over in 2001. He successfully expanded the business from one small publication to several monthly publications as well as Expos in the Dane County area.

Pat loved golf, documentaries, butter, discussing politics, mayonnaise, spending time with his son and wife, family dinners, old movies, pink shirts, comedian Jim Gaffigan, and watching the Badgers or Packers while dearly holding his favorite "pillow." Pat was humble, honest, extremely generous, and made a positive impact on this community as well as the lives of many individuals.

Pat is survived by mother Julie of Madison; his wife Lisa (O'Brien); son Patrick of Verona, stepchildren Maria Moore and Rebecca Holder of Atlanta, GA, Jonathan Moore of Sterling, CO; all children of Debra Paris, Atlanta, GA; sisters Mary of Verona and Carol (Jeff) Kuzniar of Flower Mound, TX; brothers Thomas "Tim" of Portland, OR, Chris (Christy) of Litchfield Park, AZ, Michael (Betsy) of Portland, OR, and Terry (Christina) of Playa Del Rey, CA; as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives. His father, Tom, preceded Pat in death.

The family extends a big thank you to the staff of Agrace HospiceCare for their compassion and support, as well as the extraordinary service provided byWillow Pharmacy. Additionally, we would like to bestow special thanks to sister Mary, for her selfless dedication to Pat, through the progressive stages of ALS.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Dr., Madison, on Friday, January 3rd, 2014, at 11 am with Father Bart Timmerman presiding. A visitation will begin at 9 am until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Edgewood High School c/o The Pat O'Gara Scholarship Fund, ALS Milwaukee Chapter or Agrace HospiceCare.

Cress-Speedway