WESTFIELD – George E. “GEBO” O’Brien, 78, of Westfield, died suddenly on Thursday, December 19, 2013 at Noble Hospital. He was born in Westfield on August 21, 1935 to William and Lena (Santinello) O’Brien.George was a graduate of Westfield High School and Cheshire Academy. He received his Bachelors Degree in Education from AIC in Springfield and received two master’s degrees from Westfield State College. George was a member of St. Mary’s Church and served in the US Marine Corps. He retired as Director of Grants and Transportation for the Westfield School Department in 2000, prior to that, he was the Director of Special Education. GEBO was a longtime member of the Westfield YMCA. He was a star football player in high school and college, and was an avid runner who ran five marathons in one year. He also and won several tournaments for racket ball and squash.
George leaves his wife of fifty years, Janet R. (Cerveny) O’Brien and a daughter, Karen M. O’Brien- Tsourides and her husband Bob of Dover, MA and two grandchildren, Brady and Lena Tsourides.
The funeral will be Monday at 8:30 a.m. from the Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church at 10:30 a.m. with burial to follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Calling hours are omitted.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in George’s memory be made to the Greater Westfield YMCA, 60 Court Street, Westfield, MA 01085 or St. Mary’s Church, 28 Bartlett Street, Westfield, MA 01085.
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