John D. O’Shea & Kathleen E. O’Shea Fund

The O’Shea’s little known legacy for Marion was established in the spirit of Saint Patrick, “Sufficient for me is that honor which is not seen of men but is felt in the heart.”
Kathy passed in 2012 after a 16-year battle with kidney cancer. John preserved her memory by creating the Kathleen E. O’Shea Fund at Marion Community Foundation, which annually awards grants in support of live theater and dance performances in Marion by sponsoring summer musicals at the Palace Theatre and area high and middle schools.

Kathy’s family moved to Marion early in her life when her father took a job with the Erie Railroad. She grew up on Homer Street, attended St. Mary School and Marion Catholic, and earned degrees from Ohio Dominican and Ohio State universities. She was a special education teacher and choreographed high school show choirs and musicals. In retirement, she taught dance, directed plays, played tennis, and channeled her passion for teaching into tutoring English as a second language.

In 2017, when John passed, a substantial gift from their combined trusts increased Kathy’s fund and created two more—a scholarship and this unrestricted fund—ensuring that the O’Shea legacy in Marion will not be forgotten.

Their scholarship supports Catholic education at Xavier and Ohio Dominican universities and the unrestricted fund will address community needs in Marion.

John worked for Bank One for more than 30 years, rising to the role of bank president in the corporation’s Coshocton, Portsmouth, Cincinnati, and Marion offices.

John’s passions were faith and family, with a lifelong love of tennis, his banking career, his time in the National Guard, and the 10 years he volunteered preparing taxes at AARP.

The unrestricted O’Shea Fund will last forever and make annual awards to support the Marion community which the couple held so dear.