Obituary of Nathan Eugene O'Flaherty

Nathan Eugene O'Flaherty, 95 years old, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at Walter Childs Hospice in Palm Bay, Florida. Nathan aka "Gene", "Nat", and "O'F", the second child of Nathan and Marie O'Flaherty, was actually born on January 22, 1918 (as told to him by his mother and as evidenced on his military enlistment papers), although his birth certificate lists him as being born on January 23, 1918, thus making the age of his death 95 and NOT 94. After the death of their mother, Nathan and his sister, Ilene, came to the United States on Columbus Day 1936 to live with relatives in New York City. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1942, and served in World War II, in the European Theater as a Staff Sergeant. While Nathan was resting in his barracks, a bomb landed in the middle of the compound. Fortunately for all of us, the bomb was a dud, otherwise his life would have ended in the service. After receiving an honorable discharge from the army, he later made his career in New York City as a supervisor in the data finance division of the United States Postal Service. In 1952 he married Lucille Joyce Abbott, and had three children, Kha, Kevin and Robert. After retiring, Nathan and Joyce moved to Palm Bay, Florida in 1995. His hobbies included playing duplicate bridge in the ABA and ACBL bridge associations, league bowling with Joyce, playing poker with his friends at the senior center, fishing with his sons, listening to big bands (he even took lessons on the sax for a short while!), playing boggle and scrabble with his family (which included his 7 grandchildren), watching sports (particularly tennis, boxing, football and baseball) and traveling (especially cruises, touring Europe, and trips to Las Vegas to play the slots). It is not widely known, but after Nathan was discharged from the army, he sang in his church choir. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Lucille Joyce, his three children: Kha (Oba) Taylor, Kevin (Karlene) O'Flaherty and Robert O'Flaherty, 7 grandchildren: Jemal, Kishema, Jehina, Yacu, Ona, Milani and Kaila, and 2 great grandchildren: Destiny and Jenelle. Nathan was greatly loved and respected by everyone who knew him and will be greatly missed. There will be a memorial service on Monday, January 28, 2013, at 2:00 pm, at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior, 1000 Jersey Lane NE, Palm Bay, FL.