He graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Brooklyn and subsequently worked for a law firm in New York City before enlisting in the U.S. Army on January 25, 1943.
After training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he was deployed overseas on April 22, 1944, where he served with Troop C, 2nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized).
[1][2] After World War II, O’Doherty pursued higher education, graduating from Sampson College and the American Institute of Banking.
[1] In addition to his business endeavors, O’Doherty ventured into politics and was elected to the New York State Legislature in 1972, representing Suffolk County's Fifth Assembly District until 1974.
His efforts in preserving local history through journalism and his advocacy for veterans’ rights and community development have left a lasting impact in Suffolk County and beyond.