Robert E. "Bob" O’Brien died Saturday, November 7 surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of the late James L. O’Brien and Elizabeth Tracy O’Brien. A native of Hartford, Bob was a graduate of St. Joseph Cathedral School, St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, and Abbey Prep, Simsbury which he attended on a football scholarship. During his late teen years he also played semi-pro football for the Ashley As in Hartford for $5.00 a game. He attended Providence College for two years before enlisting in the Army in 1951. Bob served in Korea where he earned a battlefield promotion to Staff Sergeant. In November of 1952, after firing more than 2,000 rounds from his tank in close battlefield conditions, Bob was severely injured and received his famous forehead dent. He was nearly as proud of that dent as he was the Purple Heart he was awarded as a result of his injuries. For many years he coached football and basketball in the West Hartford Boys League. Bob was a long-time member of the West Hartford Lions Club and earned a 10 Year Perfect Attendance Pin. He became president of the West Hartford club and later served as Cabinet Financial Secretary. Bob’s professional life was spent primarily in the Air Pollution Control industry. He began his career at Colonial Blower in Plainville, CT serving as President before leaving to join American Air Filter in Louisville, KY as a Regional Manager for the Northeast. Recognized for his expertise in the coal handling industry, Bob authored several articles for Mining Magazine. He designed and sold one of Connecticut’s largest Dust Control Systems for Bristol Brass in the early 1970s. Many of the metal working manufacturers in Connecticut and elsewhere followed his basic design. In 1974, Bob married Veronica “Ronnie” Barry Meehan, his childhood sweetheart and life-long friend. They created a home in West Hartford to combine their nine children. Bob joked that they had a crisis a day, but that God blessed them and they enjoyed all the love and excitement a family needed. Life in Louisville, KY was equally exciting and Bob and Ronnie hosted many friends and family for the Kentucky Derby, and Bob was named a Kentucky Colonel. After his assignment in Louisville, they spent five years in Pittsburg, PA and then three years in Bethlehem, PA.
Bob and Ronnie retired in 1993 and spent 13 years in Myrtle Beach, SC where Bob polished his golf game and shot a hole-in-one on the 13th hole at Prestwick Country Club. He also volunteered as a guardian ad litem for foster children. After this lengthy vacation in SC they returned to West Hartford to be near their family. They enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., Europe and Caribbean and made friends around the globe. Bob especially loved cruises, trips to Disney World and summers at Hawk’s Nest. Bob was the life of the party and frequently entertained friends with his hilarious rendition of the “Archibald Assolebroke” joke. He was a long-time fan of the Dallas Cowboys and any team with a Manning as quarterback. He also was an avid fan of UConn women’s basketball. In addition to his beloved wife of 41 years, Bob leaves their nine children: Maureen O’Brien and her partner Pam MacPherson of Seattle WA, Gail Barber of West Hartford, Robert E. O’Brien, Jr. and his wife Lolita of Cromwell, Kathleen O’Brien of West Hartford, Erin O’Brien Scott and her husband Jeffrey of Cranberry Township, PA, Lisa Meehan Curran and her husband, Joe, of West Hartford, Kevin Meehan of Middletown, Shawn Meehan of Avon, and Michael Meehan and his wife Jennifer of Avon. He also leaves his much loved 15 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife Marilyn Briggs O’Brien as well as his brother, James L. O’Brien, Jr. The family would like to thank Dr. Dowsett and the Radiation Department staff as well as Dr. Hegde, Nancy Baccaro, APRN, Sophie Masternak, RN and the staff of the Medical Oncology Department of UConn Health Center for their loving care. We also extend our gratitude to Hartford HealthCare at Home Hospice Care, particularly Kateri Pilon, RN and Rikaliah Richardson, CNA as well as Janet Flagg, APRN, Bob’s primary care provider at the VA in Newington. The family will welcome guests at the Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford from 4:00 to 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 10. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of St. Timothy, 1116 North Main Street, West Hartford at 10:30am on Wednesday, November 11. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Timothy Middle School Athletic Fund. For online condolences or to share a memory with the family visit www.sheehanhilbornbreen.com .