For One Burlington Resident, Clowning is a Family Affair
Joe O’Hare found his calling as a Shriner clown after becoming a dad. Now, his whole family helps bring joy to hospitals, parades, and the circus ring.
Burlington Resident, Joe "JoeeO" O'Hare, brings smiles to audiences big and small throughout the year — from hospital rooms to the big top. And he does it dressed in white makeup, colorful wigs, and big shoes. This work, he says, is a calling rooted in joy, service, and a little circus magic.
O'Hare hasn't always been a clown. In fact, he didn't get his start until after his son, Joey, was born in 2007. Since then, his wife—who he met when he was hosting Karaoke in Billerica—and even his now-teenage son have joined in on the fun.
"My son was born 2007 in November, and my aunt gave us tickets to the Shriners Circus, which was in April," he said. "Some guy named Tommy Tomato in Somerville," where O'Hare's family is originally from, gave the tickets to the aunt, who gave them to O'Hare, who took his family for the first time in 2008—and returned with them, year after year.
"And then 2012, I joined Freemasons. In 2013, I joined the Shriners," said O'Hare, who works in the food and beverage industry professionally. Freemasons, a fraternal order of men who are committed to believing in a greater power and bettering the world around them. "It's basically just trying to be as good a person as you can without hurting yourself," said O'Hare. "If you can help someone and not hurt yourself, you need to do it."
Shriners International is a subset of the Freemasons dedicated to brotherhood and philanthropy founded nearly 150 years ago. In 1922, they founded the first in a worldwide network of pediatric sub-specialty hospitals. Shriners Children's Hospital Boston is known for providing burn care and recovery as well as plastic surgery, cleft lip care, and other treatments.
For JoeeO, Clowning with the Shriners is a volunteer commitment that lasts long after the circus leaves in late April. "What brings the most joy to me is going to the hospital," he said; he and his colleagues visit the Shriners Hospital in Boston and also clown at local venues like the Billerica Community Farmer's Market, sometimes in exchange for a stipend that goes directly to the Shriners organization.
This year's the Shriner's Circus runs nine shows total from Thursday, April 24, through Sunday, April 27. JoeeO says he's in charge of the skit this year, and "It's unbelievable. So much fun." In addition t0 clown skits and animal-centered attractions such as dog and pony shows, the circus features human acts like The Chicago Boyz from TV's America's Got Talent, a Human Cannonball, and much more.
"It's like running away with the circus," said O'Hare. "It's just an unbelievable feeling."
O'Hare says you can watch coverage of the opening ceremonies on WBZ starting on Thursday morning, and then catch JoeeO and the rest of the acts at the Shriners Circus from Thursday through Sunday of this week. You can even grab some free passes from the Recreation Department.
JoeeO outside Shriners Boston and with his patriotic clown colleagues.
