REMEMBERING BOB O'ROURK
Photographer extraordinaire, and no ordinary man
Bob O’Rourke
I am posting this obituary of Bob O’Rourk before I put it on FrontRowSoccer.com. I usually don’t duplicate posts, but I am not certain how many of my readers read that website. I wanted to share this bit of information with as many people as possible.
Readers of this website might not be familiar with the name Bob O'Rourk.
I certainly am.
Bob O'Rourk was one of the most accomplished sports photographers on Long Island.
I worked with him for more than a decade.
O'Rourk passed away on May 15. He was 87.
His photos never graced FrontRowSoccer.com, but I admired his work, and I wanted to share a little about O'Rourk's life, as a photojournalist, and as a man.
What made Bob O'Rourk special was that he was a man of many abilities and interests. A graduate of Chaminade High School and Adelphi University, Bob pursued a career in engineering before turning to sports photography.
What made Bob O'Rourk special as a photographer was that he worked for two North Fork newspapers, the Suffolk Times and Riverhead News-Review, taking countless photos of six high schools sports teams over the years. I accompanied him on assignment at many of those games and events.
What makes photographers, especially ones who take pictures at sporting events, is that they don't get a second chance to capture that special moment, whether it is the winning shot in basketball, a beautiful goal in soccer or the celebration after a fabulous run to paydirt in football.
Losing concentration during a sporting event is not an option for a photographer. The next fabulous shot could be right around the corner. Whereas as a writer, I could watch a goal, scribble down my thoughts in a notebook (yes, some of us still use those) and then try to expand on it by talking to the player, teammates, and coaches of both teams.
Bob's photos made it look easy, although I know the process was anything but that. But the great ones always seem to make them look easy, don't they?
During a time in which ageism seems to rule out qualified workers because of their age, not their abilities, Bob O'Rourk had the opportunity to work into his late 80's, doing something that he enjoyed very much. It should be noted that Bob was honored countless times for his work by various newspaper and journalism organizations.
While writing stories for both newspapers, most recently for the Times, I covered dozens of games with Bob. We would talk before the start of games and sometimes at halftime. Sometimes it was shop talk, about the business or sports. Other times it was about our lives. I learned very quickly how dedicated he was to the Setauket Fire Dept., how he and his wife, Jean, loved to attend Broadway shows, and how he enjoyed camping, among other many other pursuits.
He even got me and my wife thinking of staying overnight on Shelter Island, a great idea, until we saw the exorbitant hotel prices.
We even had a few "adventures" together.
While on the way to cover a Mattituck High School baseball game a couple of years ago, I was just about ready to go through the traffic circle in Riverhead when I got a call from Bob. His car had broken down near Exit 64 of the Long Island Expressway and he needed a ride to the game to take pictures. I went through the circle again, heading west. Got on the LIE on Exit 73 and drove 20 minutes to pick up Bob. We both got to the baseball game in time for the first pitch.
Glad I was there to help.
I drove Bob home that night and I got home in in time to pursue another assignment of covering a soccer game via streaming.
As a member of the Setauket Fire Dept., he held the unofficial distinction as the oldest probationary member ever, he served as a member of the Emergency Medical Services and Fire Police.
"He embraced his role within the department with passion and enthusiasm, and his dedication and compassion left a lasting impact on the many lives he touched," according to his obituary on the Bryant Funeral Home website.
"Bob’s unwavering faith in God was the foundation of his life. He lived with integrity, kindness and a deep sense of purpose, guided by his belief in serving others."
He also was a member of St. James Parish in Setauket, spending much time as a ministry member of Meals on Wheels.
Bob worked until last October, when his declining health caught up to him.
The last year was quite a difficult time for the O'Rourk family. Bob's brother passed away while visiting South America, and Bob’s son, Brian (Therese), died in an airplane crash in June 2024.
We talked about that. Sometimes you discover what a person is when they mourn for their losses, but continue to live life, as well.
What I admired about Bob was that despite being well beyond retirement age, he pursued things that he kept active, enjoying and excelling at what made him happy. Not many of us can say that.
In addition to his wife of 63 years, Jean, Bob is survived by his children: Lory, Bobby, Patrick (Stephanie) and John (Terri); his 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and his beloved cats, Nugget and Camp.
Visitation is set for Tuesday, May 27, from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 28, at 10:45 a.m. at St. James R.C. Church in Setauket, with a celebration of his life to follow.
My deepest condolences and sympathies to the O'Rourk family and friends.
RIP, Bob.