Daniel G. O'Leary, 62; led Notre Dame football trips

Daniel G. O'Leary, 62, of Essington, who led annual pilgrimages to football games at the University of Notre Dame for more than 40 years, died Wednesday of respiratory failure at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park.

Mr. O'Leary's fascination with Notre Dame football began in 1964, when he and five others drove in a Cadillac to South Bend, Ind., his son Daniel L. said yesterday.

On that Nov. 21, Notre Dame beat the University of Iowa, 28-0, his son said, and the tradition began.

But that first trip also taught Mr. O'Leary to be prepared.

"When they left Philadelphia, it was 60" degrees, his son said. "When they got to South Bend, it was snowing, and they had to go out and buy winter clothing."

Besides annual trips to the campus games, Mr. O'Leary organized bus trips to Notre Dame games from coast to coast, his son said. "We did 90 people to Baltimore two years ago for the Notre Dame-Navy game at Ravens stadium."

His father's last trip to South Bend was last season. "I was with him at the Boston College game" there, his son said. Notre Dame lost, 27-14.

A 1964 graduate of Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Mr. O'Leary was a plumbing-supplies salesman all his life.

A former owner of Clank's Pizza Bar in Marcus Hook, he was a part-time bartender until four years ago at such Delaware County taverns as the Anise, O'Hagan's Bar, Pattonville, Providence Ale House, and the Railway Cafe.

Mr. O'Leary was a member of the Black Jack Kehoe Division 4 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Glenolden.

In addition to his son, Mr. O'Leary is survived by son Joseph; daughter Briget; five grandchildren; and his companion, Pat O'Hagan. He is also survived by his former wife, Judith.

Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. today at the O'Leary Funeral Home, 640 E. Springfield Rd., Springfield, Delaware County, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Joseph's Church, 500 Woodlawn Ave., Collingdale. Burial will be in Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery in Linwood.