A US Navy veteran, union leader, volunteer fireman, local Democratic politician, and life-long participant in church and community activities, Mr. O'Kane died at the age of 89. Predeceased by his wife, Sally (nee Maxwell) in 2013, his survivors at the time of his death included their four children: former US Congresswoman Ellen O'Kane Tauscher of Washington DC and San Francisco, CA; Katherine Keszkowski of South Orange, NJ; Sally Bender of Peachtree City, GA; Jack O'Kane of Lincroft, NJ; nine grandchildren, and five great-grand children.
The son of Edward and Marie O'Kane, immigrants from Belfast, Ireland, Mr. O'Kane and his elder brother, the late Edward O'Kane, grew up in the small Hudson County borough of East Newark, NJ, during the Great Depression. He attended Holy Cross Grammar School in nearby Harrison, NJ, and after graduating from Harrison High School in June 1945, enlisted in the US Navy. He subsequently served a as radio operator on the USS Estes, the USN Flag Ship in the Western Pacific, from 1945 to 1948. In 1950 he married Sally C. Maxwell of Harrison, and in January 1951 was recalled to the US Navy during the Korean Conflict, serving on board the Atlantic Fleet's USS Kula Gulf. Upon his return in 1952, he resumed working as a supermarket manager, having been introduced to the food industry many years earlier as a nine-year-old delivery boy for the A&P in East Newark. He was employed by both A&P and Shop Rite during the course of his career, and served as Shop Steward of the United Food Commercial Workers Union.
A lifelong Democrat, Mr. O'Kane served on East Newark's Borough Council and its Finance Committee during the 1960's, and as head of its Recreation Committee. He was also a volunteer fire fighter, serving as Chief of the East Volunteer Newark Fire Department. His political activism led to memorable encounters with two American Presidents. In 1960 he met John F. Kennedy during a campaign event in Jersey City, and years later, while flying on Air Force One with his daughter, US Rep. Ellen O'Kane Tauscher, was addressed as "Dad" by President Clinton.
Named local Irishman of the Year in 1983, Mr. O'Kane remained active in Catholic religious organizations throughout his life. A member of the Holy Name Society and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, he had served as a Liturgical Reader at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, and participated in parish events at St. Anthony's in East Newark. After moving to Georgia, he served as a finance volunteer at Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City.
Following Mr. O'Kane's funeral Mass at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, NJ on March 18, his remains were taken to Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ, arrangements by Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison, NJ. In lieu of flowers, it was suggested that donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
The son of Edward and Marie O'Kane, immigrants from Belfast, Ireland, Mr. O'Kane and his elder brother, the late Edward O'Kane, grew up in the small Hudson County borough of East Newark, NJ, during the Great Depression. He attended Holy Cross Grammar School in nearby Harrison, NJ, and after graduating from Harrison High School in June 1945, enlisted in the US Navy. He subsequently served a as radio operator on the USS Estes, the USN Flag Ship in the Western Pacific, from 1945 to 1948. In 1950 he married Sally C. Maxwell of Harrison, and in January 1951 was recalled to the US Navy during the Korean Conflict, serving on board the Atlantic Fleet's USS Kula Gulf. Upon his return in 1952, he resumed working as a supermarket manager, having been introduced to the food industry many years earlier as a nine-year-old delivery boy for the A&P in East Newark. He was employed by both A&P and Shop Rite during the course of his career, and served as Shop Steward of the United Food Commercial Workers Union.
A lifelong Democrat, Mr. O'Kane served on East Newark's Borough Council and its Finance Committee during the 1960's, and as head of its Recreation Committee. He was also a volunteer fire fighter, serving as Chief of the East Volunteer Newark Fire Department. His political activism led to memorable encounters with two American Presidents. In 1960 he met John F. Kennedy during a campaign event in Jersey City, and years later, while flying on Air Force One with his daughter, US Rep. Ellen O'Kane Tauscher, was addressed as "Dad" by President Clinton.
Named local Irishman of the Year in 1983, Mr. O'Kane remained active in Catholic religious organizations throughout his life. A member of the Holy Name Society and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, he had served as a Liturgical Reader at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, and participated in parish events at St. Anthony's in East Newark. After moving to Georgia, he served as a finance volunteer at Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City.
Following Mr. O'Kane's funeral Mass at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, NJ on March 18, his remains were taken to Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ, arrangements by Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison, NJ. In lieu of flowers, it was suggested that donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
A US Navy veteran, union leader, volunteer fireman, local Democratic politician, and life-long participant in church and community activities, Mr. O'Kane died at the age of 89. Predeceased by his wife, Sally (nee Maxwell) in 2013, his survivors at the time of his death included their four children: former US Congresswoman Ellen O'Kane Tauscher of Washington DC and San Francisco, CA; Katherine Keszkowski of South Orange, NJ; Sally Bender of Peachtree City, GA; Jack O'Kane of Lincroft, NJ; nine grandchildren, and five great-grand children.
The son of Edward and Marie O'Kane, immigrants from Belfast, Ireland, Mr. O'Kane and his elder brother, the late Edward O'Kane, grew up in the small Hudson County borough of East Newark, NJ, during the Great Depression. He attended Holy Cross Grammar School in nearby Harrison, NJ, and after graduating from Harrison High School in June 1945, enlisted in the US Navy. He subsequently served a as radio operator on the USS Estes, the USN Flag Ship in the Western Pacific, from 1945 to 1948. In 1950 he married Sally C. Maxwell of Harrison, and in January 1951 was recalled to the US Navy during the Korean Conflict, serving on board the Atlantic Fleet's USS Kula Gulf. Upon his return in 1952, he resumed working as a supermarket manager, having been introduced to the food industry many years earlier as a nine-year-old delivery boy for the A&P in East Newark. He was employed by both A&P and Shop Rite during the course of his career, and served as Shop Steward of the United Food Commercial Workers Union.
A lifelong Democrat, Mr. O'Kane served on East Newark's Borough Council and its Finance Committee during the 1960's, and as head of its Recreation Committee. He was also a volunteer fire fighter, serving as Chief of the East Volunteer Newark Fire Department. His political activism led to memorable encounters with two American Presidents. In 1960 he met John F. Kennedy during a campaign event in Jersey City, and years later, while flying on Air Force One with his daughter, US Rep. Ellen O'Kane Tauscher, was addressed as "Dad" by President Clinton.
Named local Irishman of the Year in 1983, Mr. O'Kane remained active in Catholic religious organizations throughout his life. A member of the Holy Name Society and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, he had served as a Liturgical Reader at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, and participated in parish events at St. Anthony's in East Newark. After moving to Georgia, he served as a finance volunteer at Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City.
Following Mr. O'Kane's funeral Mass at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, NJ on March 18, his remains were taken to Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ, arrangements by Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison, NJ. In lieu of flowers, it was suggested that donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
The son of Edward and Marie O'Kane, immigrants from Belfast, Ireland, Mr. O'Kane and his elder brother, the late Edward O'Kane, grew up in the small Hudson County borough of East Newark, NJ, during the Great Depression. He attended Holy Cross Grammar School in nearby Harrison, NJ, and after graduating from Harrison High School in June 1945, enlisted in the US Navy. He subsequently served a as radio operator on the USS Estes, the USN Flag Ship in the Western Pacific, from 1945 to 1948. In 1950 he married Sally C. Maxwell of Harrison, and in January 1951 was recalled to the US Navy during the Korean Conflict, serving on board the Atlantic Fleet's USS Kula Gulf. Upon his return in 1952, he resumed working as a supermarket manager, having been introduced to the food industry many years earlier as a nine-year-old delivery boy for the A&P in East Newark. He was employed by both A&P and Shop Rite during the course of his career, and served as Shop Steward of the United Food Commercial Workers Union.
A lifelong Democrat, Mr. O'Kane served on East Newark's Borough Council and its Finance Committee during the 1960's, and as head of its Recreation Committee. He was also a volunteer fire fighter, serving as Chief of the East Volunteer Newark Fire Department. His political activism led to memorable encounters with two American Presidents. In 1960 he met John F. Kennedy during a campaign event in Jersey City, and years later, while flying on Air Force One with his daughter, US Rep. Ellen O'Kane Tauscher, was addressed as "Dad" by President Clinton.
Named local Irishman of the Year in 1983, Mr. O'Kane remained active in Catholic religious organizations throughout his life. A member of the Holy Name Society and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, he had served as a Liturgical Reader at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, and participated in parish events at St. Anthony's in East Newark. After moving to Georgia, he served as a finance volunteer at Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City.
Following Mr. O'Kane's funeral Mass at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, NJ on March 18, his remains were taken to Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ, arrangements by Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison, NJ. In lieu of flowers, it was suggested that donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
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