Tuesday, November 2, 2021
I am one of 4 siblings of Keith and Francis O’Hara. Gerald, (Jerry to me and those closest to him), was the oldest.
Of course, I have a lifetime of memories, and I will share just a few here.
We grew up, where my earliest memories come from, in a two-bedroom house on Chestnut Lane in Dartmouth. It was out in the country in those days.
Jerry always was obsessed with how things worked. He honed those obsessions on a Meccano set we had, a kit of metal straps and screws which took you wherever your imagination could lead you. I remember him building a crane with it and lifting stuff from the stairwell to the top floor.
As we grew up, Dad’s job took us to many moves. The first move was to Moncton, where I learned from Jerry how to tell how many engines were on an airplane flying overhead.
Next, we moved across the Petitcodiac River to Riverview. As we did not have a TV yet, I remember many times going across the street to a neighbor’s house watching Roy Rogers with Jerry and Glen (sibling #2).
From there, Dad and Mom moved back to Dartmouth, on Mount Pleasant Ave, not far from where Jerry & Linda, Glen & Eleanor and Colleen & Peter would ultimately reside.
Dad’s job with Chrysler, took us to St. John’s, NL, in the late 50’s. Those were memorable years. Many friends were made. Jerry got his driver’s license. As dad travelled by airline a lot, the car was home, and mom was in charge of the keys. As you can imagine, Jerry did not have too much trouble getting them. I remember travelling around a lot in those new Chrysler cars with him. One car had a record player in it, a Chrysler option. Jerry’s popularity grew immensely with the girls, a new car with a record player! It would play 45s and never skip over the bumpiest of roads. As you can imagine, Jerry tested it thoroughly.
One imbedded memory I have from St. John’s was on my birthday. I got a new 3 speed bike, which was like a Cadillac to me. Jerry wanted to borrow it. I was reluctant, as I barely had driven it myself. I relented. When he came back with it, it had a new accessory bell on it which he bought for my birthday!
Another memorable event I recall was Jerry and Glen had a double date. I believe Linda was Jerry’s date. Jerry got the car keys from Mom (of course) and away they went. Apparently, they drove many miles. Dad always kept track of the odometer reading. On their return, feeling concerns over the many miles they travelled, they decided to do something about it. They, Jerry in the lead, took the dash apart and rolled the odometer back, to conceal the extra miles. They got busted as Glen was caught by Mom returning the tools to the house in a rubber boot!
Those were impressionable years for me with cars. Another car Dad had was a 1960 Plymouth Fury with swivel seats. As you opened the door, the seat turned out for you. This kept Jerry’s reputation up with the girls.
As Jerry was working at this point, he was buying the latest in audio equipment. One such item was a new thing called a Seabreeze tape recorder, 7”, real to real, wow! As I already mentioned, Jerry’s passion to find out how things worked, he immediately took it apart. Once he found out and understood how it worked, his curiosity was satisfied, and he just left it apart. This is where I honed my skills and put it back together. This was a pattern that would repeat itself over the years!
After three years in NL, we moved back to Dartmouth. Jerry stayed behind as he had found the love of his life, Linda.
Jerry eventually moved back, and Linda moved as well to stay with her sister, Alma and her husband Chuck who were conveniently living in Dartmouth.
I soon got my driver’s license (3 weeks after turning 16). Jerry had a 1957 Plymouth, which he let me drive. He sent me to pick up Linda from Alma and Chuck’s on a snowy night. A police car had stopped in front of me, and I promptly skidded into the back of it. Opps! I felt so bad, but Jerry took it in stride.
Jerry eventually got rid of the Plymouth and bought a Mini Minor station wagon. It got 50 miles to the gallon! Not satisfied with the plain dash, which was more of a parcel shelf, Jerry rebuilt it with wood. I don’t think he ever finished it, lol!
Jerry was never one to work for anyone, so he always worked for himself. Over the years, as I worked for him, I learned many things which served me well. I could go on for hours with stories of real estate, construction companies, a tavern, and an alarm company.
Jerry was always a big brother to me, and I miss him.
To Linda and Colleen, who were steadfastly by his side until the end, I will always be here for you.
