John P. O’Hara, a leading industrial real estate broker in Suffolk County and managing partner of the Long Island office of Sperry Van Ness Commercial Real Estate Advisors in Holbrook, died Nov. 15. He was 54.
A specialist in land sales, industrial and office sales and leasing, O’Hara assisted in the development and completion of four major industrial parks in Suffolk County totaling hundreds of acres.
He also arranged more than 80 build-to-suit industrial properties totaling more than four million square feet in Islip and Brookhaven towns.
In addition, he put together leasing and sales transactions totaling more than one million square feet.
“His presence will be greatly missed,” said David Madigan, president of Sperry Van Ness Long Island, “He was the dominant industrial real estate broker in Suffolk County.
O’Hara’s career as a commercial real estate broker spanned 20 years. He joined Sperry Vann Ness in early 2012 after leaving the firm he co-founded in 2003, Corporate Realty Services LLC, of Hauppaug
e.
Before that, he worked for Brown Harris Stevens Real Estate Services and George Tsunis Real Estate, Prior to becoming a broker, O’Hara was vice president of a regional petroleum marketer.
“John’s comprehensive knowledge of Long Island’s commercial real estate market and economic development enabled him to work with his clients in all aspects of their real estate transactions,” Madigan added.
Among O’Hara’s biggest transactions was a 37-acre land deal that enabled Ronkonkoma-based Quality King Distributors, the largest private company on Long Island, to build 560,000 s/f of offices and warehouse in Yaphank.
In addition to his wife, O’Hara is survived by his brothers Brian and Kevin, and sisters, Ilene and Julie.
