Patricia M. O’Hara Watson, 88, of Pinehurst, passed peacefully at The Greens at Pinehurst on Monday, Dec. 14th.
Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1932, she was the daughter of the late Thomas F. and Helen Bonanno O’Hara. Pat was raised in Stamford, CT. where she graduated from high school, class of 1950 and went on to earn a business degree. She had worked as an administrative assistant for Moore Business Forms in NYC. She lived in Monmouth County New Jersey before settling in Pinehurst in November of 1972. Pat always had a love of the performing arts and became heavily involved with the Pinehurst Dinner Theatre. She started out acting, but soon grew to take on more responsibilities with directing. Pat branched out to join with the Sandhills Little Theatre, notably serving as its President, an achievement she was extremely proud of, before retiring in 1996. Pat also was the Chairman of Admissions for the World Golf Hall of Fame Classic and the Colgate Hall of Fame Classic held in Pinehurst.
Pat was a well known face and personality in Pinehurst and was affectionately known as “The Mayoress of Market Square”. An avid reader, ardent fan of the television game show Jeopardy she was a contestant in 1968. Hardly a Sunday evening went by without her having completed the NYT Sunday Crossword She played a good game of golf and had been a member of the Pinehurst Country Club. In her later years, one of her children observed she had several acquaintances from the “younger crowd” and marveled at her apparent ability to “charm the birds out of the trees”
Pat is survived by her daughter Bridget Sullivan Gulka of Pinehurst and sons: Sean T. Sullivan of Greenville, NC and Stephen D. Watson of Wilmington, NC(partner Mark Van Cil). She was the sister of Mary Ann Wing of Old Bridge, NJ and the late Thomas F. O’ Hara, Jr. She is also survived by her 3 grandchildren: Kyle N. Messner, wife Barbara of Brick, NJ, Ryan B. Gulka, fiancé Nicole of Rahway, NJ and Sean T. Sullivan, II of Greenville, NC. Lest we forget a host of grand-dogs and cats.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.
