O'Hara Family Leaves Lasting Legacy

In January 2011, New Hampton School received a $50,000 grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation in support of professional development opportunities within the International Baccalaureate Program. To secure the donation, New Hampton School was required to match the $50,000 through outside donations before December 2012. The O'Hara Family, whose history with New Hampton School spans nearly seven decades, was the perfect partner for E.E. Ford.

J.Philip O'Hara is a member of New Hampton School Class of 1951 and is one of the School's most loyal alumni. His granddaughter, Kate O'Hara, is a member of the New Hampton School Class of 2006. The entire O'Hara family has been committed to supporting the New Hampton School mission for decades. Phil is an educator at heart, and was a longtime administrator at Brown University. Phil has seen NHS through all manners of circumstances. In particular, his close working relationship with Headmaster Emeritus T. Holmes "Bud" Moore ’38 helped shape New Hampton School at a challenging time in the School's history.

"The O'Hara Family are the type of people that schools need to remain relevant and strong in challenging times," Moore says. "They support the School in so many ways, financially and as examples of people who care about the legacy and the people that make New Hampton what it is as an institution."

Kate ’06, daughter of Keith O’Hara P’06, recently graduated from Boston University with a Master's degree in Social Work. Following her family's footsteps, Kate has been a loyal donor to New Hampton School since graduating in 2006.

The O'Hara family's involvement in the life of the School is remarkable. Experiencing firsthand the importan role faculty play in the lives of NHS students, the O'Hara Family recognized a growing need to support faculty professional development, making the E.E. Ford grant a relevant opportunity to support. Thanks to the generosity of Phil ’51 and his wife Patricia, Kate's father, Keith and his wife Dena, Kate's grandmother Ariel O'Hara GP’06, Phil's son John O'Hara, and the O'Hara grandchildren, the E.E. Ford Foundation challenge grant was matched, providing an immediate $100,000 for specialized IB faculty professional development at New Hampton School over the next few years.

Through this gift, the family has established The O'Hara Family Excellence in Teaching Prize. The prize recognizes a member of the English department and honors the lasting legacy of the O'Hara Family at New Hampton School. The 2012 recipient of The O'Hara Family Excellence in Teaching Prize was faculty member Andrew Nagy. Andrew began his academic career studying English at The College of the Holy Cross, where his father was a professor. His students describe him as unafraid of trying new teaching methods and sharing new ideas. Andrew's willingness to be innovative is infectious. He works with students to improve their writing, not just their grade. An advocate for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program he is a teacher who has spent much of his time traveling, reading, and writing. He most fondly talks about his time teaching in Thailand, where he met his wife Newie.

New Hampton School is grateful for the generosity of the entire O'Hara Family. The O'Hara's support of the faculty will have a lasting impact for years to come.

O'Hara Family Donors