John F.X. O'Leary

John Francis Xavier O'Leary, 64, passed away on November 3, 2022, at his home in Kona, Hawaii. He was the son of the late James J. O'Leary and Margaret M. (Scanlon) O'Leary of Beverly, MA. He is survived by his two loving daughters, Madeline B. O'Leary of San Diego, CA and Annie E. O'Leary of Philadelphia, PA. He is also survived by his brother, Jim O'Leary of Washington and many cousins, nieces and nephews from his O'Leary, Scanlon, and Nicolazzo families.

Born in New York, John grew up in Beverly, MA. He graduated from Beverly High School in 1976, where he was a state ranked track athlete. John loved recounting stories, always hilariously, about his younger years in Beverly and maintained enduring friendships from this time.

After high school John earned a degree in marine biology from UMass Dartmouth and a master's degree in instructional technology from Lesley University. He was a science teacher and coach at Triton Regional High School for many years and later worked at Pentucket until his retirement in 2009. John was a passionate teacher and coach and impacted the lives of many students with his encouragement and sense of humor.

John loved the ocean and its environs and had a thorough appreciation for and knowledge of the marshes and sea life of the Atlantic coast. After retirement he moved to Kona, Hawaii, where he'd spend his days wading in the tide pools of the Pacific and capturing breathtaking images of Kona sunsets and crashing waves to share with his friends at home on his Facebook page. He appreciated every moment living in such a natural paradise and shared his philosophy of gratitude and mindfulness in his daily posts.

John's deepest love was for his two daughters, Madeline and Annie. His happiest moments were spent in their company, laughing, eating, over-decorating for holidays, exploring New England, Hawaii, New York City and other favorite destinations, or just hanging out, always joking together, often doubled over with laughter. He was an unashamedly proud father and his girls adore him in return.

A memorial service for John will be held at The Elks at Bass Rocks, 101 Atlantic Road in Gloucester, MA, on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 1 P.M. All family and friends are invited to attend.