Obituary for John C. O'Brien
John Carl O’Brien of Medford, age 87, died of Pancreatic Cancer on December 29, 2022.
John, a proud Swede with an Irish name, was a true renaissance man with a wide variety of interests and talents. Trained as a painter with a focus on portraits and the human form, he was also a poet, a lover of architecture, wine, travel, interior design and a good beach. When he could combine many of those interests with a trip to a great destination that offered history, architecture, good food and wine and could inspire a poem he was in his element. For forty years he and his wife Maggie shared these adventures and interests. John also enjoyed bargaining for the best price on a variety of items, including hotel rooms, a tendency which often left Maggie shaking her head.
Multiple trips to Italy and Ireland and additional jaunts to Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, England, Croatia, Wales, Scotland, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Greece for Greek Easter and lamb on a spit, Turkey (where John had to have emergency surgery and was forever grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Turkish people), Argentina, Costa Rica and many winter days spent on the beautiful island of Bequia in St.Vincent and the Grenadines occupied much of John and Maggie’s time and pleasure for many years. Closer to home no summer was complete without trips to Ogunquit and beautiful Maine. North American adventures included San Diego, San Francisco and the coast of California, the gorgeous coast of Oregon, Santa Fe, the Grand Canyon and other wonderful national parks, Florida spots including beautiful Sanibel, Venice, Naples and Sarasota, Quebec City, Montreal, Banff and the Canadian Rockies and Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia. John’s biggest travel regret was that he never took an African safari where his love of wild animals and the incredible beauty of nature would have been satisfied.
John grew up in Somerville during World War 2. With his father on the Pacific front and his uncle on the European front, he learned about maps and began a life-long interest in geography. He was also a bit of ring-leader among neighborhood children and admitted he sometimes tried to get some to attempt things he was afraid to try! He was a great maker of model airplanes which he suspended from the ceiling in his bedroom! Graduating from High School and unsure whether he should pursue engineering (his practical side) or art (his true love), he instead chose a year in Bermuda! His father, a career navy guy, had recently been stationed there and suggested John come along for a year and figure out his future. John quickly determined a year in Bermuda was a perfect solution to his conundrum. That year was both fun and a learning experience and he talked of it often with great fondness. It also likely was the source of his future travel bug.
After Bermuda, he pursued art seriously. Trained in the classical manner, John studied at Vesper George School of Art. He was an apprentice to ecclesiastic Sculptors Adio di Bacardi and Angelo Cascieri, and studied privately with Margaret FitzHugh Brown, George Yphantis and Jack Callahan. A practical man who liked to live well, he worked as a technical artist for many years for Raytheon company. As his interest in interior design expanded, he began doing more and more interior design work for Raytheon and eventually retired from that company as the director of interior design.
John loved his home in Medford and spent much time, effort and love renovating it. A great spot for entertaining, he loved it best when it was filled with happy friends and family. Of course, the saying was always “John O’Brien, a guest at his own party” as he usually managed to escape a lot of the preparation work! An only child, John loved and was proud of his children Craig and Jill and was proud and happy when Jill’s husband Kevin became like a second son. But it was the addition of grandchildren that truly brought a sparkle to his eye. Being Jordan and Ryan’s Papa was the best “job” he ever had and simply saying their names would bring a big smile to his face. He also took great pleasure in always being included in Maggie’s family’s events and the Bullock and Yablonskie families were very dear and special to him.
John was a good man who loved is family, friends and life itself. He will be sorely missed by many but hopefully many will raise a glass and toast a man and a life well-lived.
John was the cherished and beloved husband of Margaret (Maggie) O’Brien. Dear father and father-in-law of Craig O’Brien of Clinton MA and Jill and Kevin Marquis of Bedford MA. Proud and loving Papa of Jordan Grace Marquis and Ryan John Marquis. Former husband of Betsy O’Brien.
The family is very grateful for the wonderful care John received from the Beth Israel Pancreatic Cancer team particularly Dr. Mary Linton Peters and Dr. James Doolin, Maggie Breault and all the incredibly kind and caring chemo nurses who are true angels with incredible skills and all the support staff on the 9th floor of the Shapiro Building. John was always treated with kindness and professionalism.
The family would appreciate consideration of donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste 200, Manhattan Beach CA 90266 or online at pancan.org.
John, a proud Swede with an Irish name, was a true renaissance man with a wide variety of interests and talents. Trained as a painter with a focus on portraits and the human form, he was also a poet, a lover of architecture, wine, travel, interior design and a good beach. When he could combine many of those interests with a trip to a great destination that offered history, architecture, good food and wine and could inspire a poem he was in his element. For forty years he and his wife Maggie shared these adventures and interests. John also enjoyed bargaining for the best price on a variety of items, including hotel rooms, a tendency which often left Maggie shaking her head.
Multiple trips to Italy and Ireland and additional jaunts to Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, England, Croatia, Wales, Scotland, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Greece for Greek Easter and lamb on a spit, Turkey (where John had to have emergency surgery and was forever grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Turkish people), Argentina, Costa Rica and many winter days spent on the beautiful island of Bequia in St.Vincent and the Grenadines occupied much of John and Maggie’s time and pleasure for many years. Closer to home no summer was complete without trips to Ogunquit and beautiful Maine. North American adventures included San Diego, San Francisco and the coast of California, the gorgeous coast of Oregon, Santa Fe, the Grand Canyon and other wonderful national parks, Florida spots including beautiful Sanibel, Venice, Naples and Sarasota, Quebec City, Montreal, Banff and the Canadian Rockies and Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia. John’s biggest travel regret was that he never took an African safari where his love of wild animals and the incredible beauty of nature would have been satisfied.
John grew up in Somerville during World War 2. With his father on the Pacific front and his uncle on the European front, he learned about maps and began a life-long interest in geography. He was also a bit of ring-leader among neighborhood children and admitted he sometimes tried to get some to attempt things he was afraid to try! He was a great maker of model airplanes which he suspended from the ceiling in his bedroom! Graduating from High School and unsure whether he should pursue engineering (his practical side) or art (his true love), he instead chose a year in Bermuda! His father, a career navy guy, had recently been stationed there and suggested John come along for a year and figure out his future. John quickly determined a year in Bermuda was a perfect solution to his conundrum. That year was both fun and a learning experience and he talked of it often with great fondness. It also likely was the source of his future travel bug.
After Bermuda, he pursued art seriously. Trained in the classical manner, John studied at Vesper George School of Art. He was an apprentice to ecclesiastic Sculptors Adio di Bacardi and Angelo Cascieri, and studied privately with Margaret FitzHugh Brown, George Yphantis and Jack Callahan. A practical man who liked to live well, he worked as a technical artist for many years for Raytheon company. As his interest in interior design expanded, he began doing more and more interior design work for Raytheon and eventually retired from that company as the director of interior design.
John loved his home in Medford and spent much time, effort and love renovating it. A great spot for entertaining, he loved it best when it was filled with happy friends and family. Of course, the saying was always “John O’Brien, a guest at his own party” as he usually managed to escape a lot of the preparation work! An only child, John loved and was proud of his children Craig and Jill and was proud and happy when Jill’s husband Kevin became like a second son. But it was the addition of grandchildren that truly brought a sparkle to his eye. Being Jordan and Ryan’s Papa was the best “job” he ever had and simply saying their names would bring a big smile to his face. He also took great pleasure in always being included in Maggie’s family’s events and the Bullock and Yablonskie families were very dear and special to him.
John was a good man who loved is family, friends and life itself. He will be sorely missed by many but hopefully many will raise a glass and toast a man and a life well-lived.
John was the cherished and beloved husband of Margaret (Maggie) O’Brien. Dear father and father-in-law of Craig O’Brien of Clinton MA and Jill and Kevin Marquis of Bedford MA. Proud and loving Papa of Jordan Grace Marquis and Ryan John Marquis. Former husband of Betsy O’Brien.
The family is very grateful for the wonderful care John received from the Beth Israel Pancreatic Cancer team particularly Dr. Mary Linton Peters and Dr. James Doolin, Maggie Breault and all the incredibly kind and caring chemo nurses who are true angels with incredible skills and all the support staff on the 9th floor of the Shapiro Building. John was always treated with kindness and professionalism.
The family would appreciate consideration of donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste 200, Manhattan Beach CA 90266 or online at pancan.org.