The Rev Robert O'Meara

Obituary

The Rev. Robert A. O’Meara, 71, passed away on April 10, of a heart attack while vacationing with his wife, Selma, and his daughter, Jocelen, and her family in Cozumel, Mexico. He had been the beloved pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Rome, NY for 33 years when he retired in June, 2005. He was always a helpful and tireless person in work, in play and with his family. He was recognized by the Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow and the Roses for the Living Awards, the City of Rome Citizenship Award, and the Shirley Waters Award in honor of outstanding achievement and contributions to the Greater Rome Area through public service. He was a member of the Rome Clergy Association, the Rome Rotary Club, the Presbytery of Utica and served on the Board of the Presbyterian Home, the Committee on Ministry and the Bi-Laws Committee of the Utica Presbytery, and the Rome Community Foundation.

Rev. O’Meara was graduated from the College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, in 1957, married Selma Hokanson in the St. Cloud Presbyterian Church, West Orange, NJ, in 1957, and was then graduated from Union Theological Seminary, New York City in 1961. He served Westminster Presbyterian Church in Syracuse for 12 years before coming to Rome.

Surviving are his wife, Selma O’Meara; his son and daughter-in-law Derrick and Diana O’Meara and grandchildren Erik and Erin O’Meara of Rome; his son and daughter-in-law Timothy and Dorrie O’Meara and grandchildren Kayla and Makenzie O’Meara and Alex and Craig Faulkner of Keene NH; his daughter and son-in-law Jocelen and Bradley Pearson and grandchildren Jillian Carrigan of Leesburg, VA, and Grace, Bailey and Grant Pearson of Westborough, MA; mother-in-law, Helen Hokanson, of Rome; sister and brother-in-law Carol and Tom Obrzut and nieces and nephews in New Jersey and Colorado.

He was an avid football fan, cross-country, downhill and water skier, sailor, canoeist, storyteller, and grandfather. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Robert A. O’Meara Scholarship Fund at the First Presbyterian Church, 108 West Court Street, Rome, NY.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 17^th, 2006, at the First Presbyterian Church. The city of Rome has offered free parking in the downtown parking garages, all city parking lots, and all metered parking for anyone attending the service.