O’Connor Way Spotlight: John O’Flaherty
John O’Flaherty couldn’t be happier. “I thank my lucky stars every day,” he said about his placement at South Boston NDC’s O’Connor Way Senior Housing.
He has an amazing place to live, a wonderful community, a great group of friends, and an easy rapport with all the residents.
John, 64, has been at O’Connor Way since August 2021. When he first arrived, Denise, one of the building’s first tenants, showed him around the property and around town, including Sully’s. Soon after, he, Denise, and another tenant, Katie, became the Three Stooges.
About six months ago, a “couple of the girls” (Janice and Katie) took John’s apartment keys and told him to get lost. In the meantime, they rearranged his room and got him a new piece of furniture. “When I walked in, it was like a new place,” he said. “That’s good people.”
John, who came to the Boston area from County Kerry, Ireland, at the age of 8, could no longer work full time because of medical issues. He was living in Maine, in the middle of nowhere, and having to drive into Boston for doctor appointments.
He applied for affordable housing everywhere and “by the grace of God,” he got in at O’Connor Way.
“It’s great. It’s good people here. I love it,” he said, joking that fellow tenant Brenda is his bodyguard.
John has been a truck driver, a cab driver, and a school bus driver in his career. Now, he drives the van for South Boston Neighborhood House. He was walking by the O’Connor Way office one day and heard they needed a driver. He was available and had the experience.
He drives residents at O’Connor Way, Patriot Homes, the Ollie, and will be adding services at Orton Marotta Way.
“The women tease me mercilessly,” he said with a smile.
John attends church every day, is a crossword puzzle and Sudoku fanatic, loves to read, and walks everywhere … when he’s not driving the Ollie van.
He is grateful for what he has. “It’s wonderful I had the opportunity to get into a place like this.”
The Three Stooges: John, Denise, and Katie.