EASTHAM, MA – The world is in desperate need of what Dr. William Francis O’Brien (1948-2024) personified. He modeled empathy, grace, moral clarity, and the Jesuit ideal of “service to others.”
Born and raised in Westfield, MA, Bill graduated LeMoyne College in 1970 and earned a PhD in psychology from The Ohio State University in 1975. He retired Chief of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the Veteran’s Administration (VA) in Dayton, Ohio after posts in Battle Creek, MI and Newport News, VA. Bill specialized in veterans experiencing PTSD and substance abuse disorders as well as former Prisoners of War. He had a healthy disrespect for authority – shunning, for instance, the congressman who only showed for veteran’s parades but did not do the legislative work of veteran’s advocacy.
While deeply serious about his work, Bill did not bring it home. He prioritized his wife Julie Crimmings O’Brien, whom he met in college and married soon after, and their daughter Dr. Erin O’Brien. Julie and Bill were a formidable duo and he loved with deep support, especially as Julie faced the breast cancer that took her life in 2002. He named his pride in Erin to Erin, ended every conversation with “love ya, bud,” and made sure Erin always texted when she got home.
Bill O’Brien knew tragedy having lost his beloved mother, Mary Lynch O’Brien, in college; his father, George E. O’Brien, before Bill turned 50; and his wife Julie in their early 50s. He held them for the whole of his life and found determination to live life fully after loss.
Bill retired from the VA in 2009 and moved to Cape Cod. There he was rewarded with a second love, Jayne O’Brien. They married in 2019 and reveled in their luck of finding each other and living on the Cape. Bill gathered her son David Reinhardt into his life and heart. Beach dinners with sandwiches, cookies, wine – and Bill’s beloved Coke – was their favorite tradition.
William was a loving brother to his sister Joanne O’Brien Knapik, brother-in-law, uncle, and “second-dad.” In selecting friends, he valued character over titles. He checked in when times were good or bad. And he had authentic style – unafraid of color and a watch for each ensemble.
Bill O’Brien was a life-long athlete – pitcher at LeMoyne College, marathoner, Cape Rail Trail cyclist, and took up golf in his 40s. He almost always made the putt or got the out – and, on the rare times he missed, congratulated the opponent. His love languages included college football (Notre Dame and Ohio State, in that order), Red Sox baseball, and family sports text chains.
He took his Catholic faith seriously and found true solace in it. He lived the core values of Catholicism in every aspect of his life, favoring faith and acceptance over dogma. He was an active member of Catholic parishes in every city in which he lived.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made “in memory of Bill O’Brien” to the Julia Crimmings O’Brien ’71 Memorial Scholarship Fund at LeMoyne College or a charity to be named later that supplements costs for low-income children in sport. A viewing will be held on 3/10 from 4-7 p.m. at Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans, MA. A funeral mass will be said on 3/11 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Orleans, MA at 11 a.m. Burial will be held 3/13 at 1 p.m. in Westfield, MA at St. Mary’s Cemetery. For online condolences, please visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/11691437
