John William O’Leary, 56, Washington, D.C. lawyer, died of pancreatic cancer on July 11, 2002 in Arlington, Va.

O’Leary was born in Albert Lea, on Aug. 10, 1945. He was a 1967 graduate of Albert Lea Senior High School. A former roughneck in Wyoming and a teacher in Alaska, O’Leary attended Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota, Boston University, received his Master’s Degree from The School of International Living in Brattleboro, Vt. and received his law degree from Antioch School of Law. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He ran his own law firm, John O’Leary & Associates.

O’Leary worked at the Catholic Worker homeless men’s shelter, Haley House in Boston Mass. He taught English in Managua, Nicaragua and worked with Vietnamese refugees at the Oekenden Venture, in Woking, England.

He liked to watch classical movies, particularly westerns. He loved the music of the Grateful Dead and enjoyed taking long walks with friends and family at the Civil War battlefield site, Antietam, in Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Judith Ramos, a son, Juan Carlos and a daughter, Yjomara, of Washington D.C.; mother Mary Ellen O’Leary, Albert Lea; brothers-in-law, Mario Ramos (Sondra) Bethesda, Md., Nelson Ramos (Lucy), Australia, Mauricio Ramos (Lillian), Washington, D.C., and Edgar Macias; brothers, Pat O’Leary (Trudy) of St. Paul, Dan O’Leary (Peggy) of Arcata, Calif., Steve O’Leary, (Mamik) of Minneapolis, Tim O’Leary (Sarah) of Arcata, Calif., and Kevin O’Leary of Ireland; sisters, Joann O’Leary (John Sommerville) of St. Anthony,, Kathleen O’Leary (Adrian Clift) of St. Anthony, Sheila Donnelly (Tom) of Blooming Prairie, Mary O’Leary (Donald Oneglia) of Arcata, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert O’Leary, and a sister Geraldine O’Leary-Macias.

A viewing will be held at Bonnerup Funeral Chapel, 525 W. Clark St., Sunday, July 14, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 15, 2002 at 10:30 at St. Theodore’s Catholic Church, Albert Lea, with burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Geneva.