Grace Oshel holds her 7-month-old great-great-granddaughter Ava Nelson during a ceremony at Kennedy School March 9, 2011, where Oshel and her family presented a World War II service flag of Oshel's late husband, Richard, to the school. Richard Oshel, known as Mr.

Richard Oshel had a nickname: Mr. O. That’s how the kids at Kennedy School knew him during his more than 20 years as a custodian at the school.

Oshel died at age 88 in November, but his presence will continue to be felt at the school. One of his last wishes was that his military flag be donated to the school, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is also on the list for potential consolidation with New York School in the next three to five years. Wednesday afternoon, his family carried out that wish.

“This is kind of our way of saying, ‘OK Dad, everything’s OK,'” said his daughter, Linda Miller.

Five generations of Oshel’s family presented the flag to Kennedy’s library. His wife, Grace, was present, all the way to his great-great-granddaughter, Ava Nelson. Miller said it meant a lot to be able to carry out her father’s wish, which he expressed once he started getting sick.

“That was the first thing he requested,” she said. “His life was here.”

Oshel earned his flag serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. Miller said he was stationed in Italy and Germany, but being at the school was his dream job. He had to drop out of school during the Great Depression, and he understood the importance of an education.

“I’d never seen my dad happier,” she said.

Cris Anderson, principal of Kennedy, knew Oshel from another building and said the flag added a valuable historical dimension to the school.

“Everybody leaves a thumbprint in life,” she said. “Mr. Oshel left his.”

Anderson said it was obvious how much Oshel loved the kids he was around, and his family was aware of that joy.

“Mr. Oshel’s children are remembering his commitment to his job,” she said. “His family knew how much his job meant to him.”