Born in Queens, NY, on Tuesday, February 28, 1928, Mr. O’Brien was the son of the late Michael and Alice O’Brien. He spent two years in the United States Navy, and then attended Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia where he was captain of the basketball team. After graduation Mr. O’Brien moved to West Point in 1952 to work in accounting with West Point Manufacturing. He retired from West Point Pepperell in 1990. Mr. O’Brien played club basketball for six years after moving to the area, and officiated high school and club basketball from 1953 to 1965. Some of his fondest memories were of his years spent coaching Little League baseball from 1963 to 1978, as well as coaching some youth basketball and midget football. Mr. O’Brien was an appointed member of the Troup County Recreation Commission from 1975 to 1985. In 2001 he was inducted into the Troup County Parks and Recreation Hall of Fame.

Mr. O’Brien was an active parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served several years as a Sunday school teacher. Mr. O’Brien was an avid supporter of West Point High School where he was a 20 year member of the PTA (1 year as president), 20 year member of the Quarterback Club (3 years as president) and was elected to the school board where he served for 9 years (3 years as treasurer). Even with his many accomplishments, Mr. O’Brien will best be remembered for the personal relationships he developed and the lives he touched.  He had a welcoming demeanor and strength of character that endeared him to the many people whose paths he crossed.  Once you met him, you often became a friend for life.

Mr. O’Brien was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Ann,  and is survived by four sons, John F. (Karen) O’Brien of Jamestown NC, Michael N. O’Brien of West Point, Richard T. (Jaye) O’Brien of Fayetteville, GA, and Robert W. (Alisa) O’Brien of Phoenix, AZ; one sister Alice Egan of Hewlett, New York, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his brother Thomas O’Brien of Oneonta, NY.