Reginald O'Brien

Anne:

Our condolences to you and family, I will miss seeing Reg at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish on Sundays. You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

~

Ruby Hill,

Newmarket, Ontario

November-13-17

My deepest condolences go to Anne, Liz, and Tim. Reg was never without a smile or a kind word. All my love.

~

Nicole Lemasson,

Toronto, Ontario

November-13-17

Dear Anne and family, My sincere condolence on the passing of Reg. I fondly remember the times I worked with him at Theatre Aurora. He leaves a remarkable legacy.

God bless,

Joy Knuff

November-13-17

Anne

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Wendy Teufel

November-11-17

I worked with Reg for many years from HHSS to NHS. He was a dedicated teacher and remarkable man. He will be fondly remembered by many and forgotten by few. My sincere condolences to his family.

~

Bryan Manuel,

Innisfil, Ontario

November-10-17

Sincere condolances to the family. He will be greatly missed.

~

Marielle Carbonneau,

Hearst

November-06-17

I met REG in my very first year of teaching at Huron Heights. He was not one of my students but I remember him from "Our Town". At that time I was very impressed -he was so friendly and out going. I was helping out with the chorus in the play.

I left Huron Heights on a maternity leave never to return! Many years later I was substitute teaching at the new NEWMARKET HIGH in an ESL class when I heard his voice in the hall! I had not seen Reg in 20 years. I had no idea he had gone into teaching. I ran out into the hall and sure enough-It WAS HIM! We caught up on life after school-I could not stop thinking WHAT A SMALL SMALL WORLD!

I read with sadness Brock WEIR's tribute to Reg in the AURORAN this week. Thanks for the memories.

~

heather masters,

aurora

November-06-17

Tim and family,

My deepest sympathy on your loss. Let your memories comfort you during this very difficult time.

~

Cari Coburn,

Etobicoke, Ontario

November-06-17

Dear Anne, Elizabeth and Tim.

I was saddened to hear of Reg's passing. He was a kind and dedicated colleague. His many students - my son included - will remember him as a guide and champion in their educational journey.

My sincere condolences.

~

Bob Hallsworth,

Aurora, Ontario

November-06-17

Anne, you've been on my mind, as I remember Reg and the bright light he - and you! - shone at dancing.

He was a consummate gentle-man. Always kind. Such a generous-spirited soul.

I feel blessed to have entered your circle. Reading the obituary, I see Reg touched so many lives. A great legacy, for sure.

Blessed bee.

Save me a dance!

~

Lorna

November-05-17

Many good memories of Reg. He was in the first play I did for Nmkt. Stage Co. He will be missed by all who knew him. Blessings on Anne and the rest of his family

~

Diana Wilton,

Newmarket, Ontario

November-05-17

May there be comfort in knowing that someone so special will never be forgotten.

~

Julie Wange,

Blackstock, Ontario

November-03-17

Ann, Elizabeth and Tim, I am so sorry for your loss. Reg was a great friend, a fellow thespian, and a real support to me when I first arrived at NHS. He will be missed by all who knew him.

~

Theresa Taylor,

Newmarket, Ontario

November-03-17

Anne, Elizabeth and Tim - I am so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

~

Josie Romualdi,

Richmond Hill, Ontario

November-03-17

Anne

I am sending condolences to you and your family on the passing of your dear husband.

We are sending our love and hugs.

~

Priscilla Marr/Stouffville Theatre,

Stouffville, Ontario

November-02-17

We will always remember the great times with Reg, Miles, Steve and Kathie in North Bay. Taking pictures at Duchesnay Falls and camping at Crystal Falls. Reg was a great friend who taught us all how to live life to its fullest. Warm memories of an incredible man...

~

Rodger & Kathie Roy,

Whitecourt, Alberta

November-02-17

Anne,Elizabeth and Tim so sorry for your loss. Out thoughts and condolences are with you.

~

Mike and Shirley Coughlan,

Hastings, Ontario

November-02-17

I was so sorry to hear that Reg has died. I was a colleague of his at Newmarket High. I first came to know him when we were both chaperones on a school trip to Normandy, France in November 2009. We visited Juno Beach, and Vimy Ridge, and shared many thoughts about WWII and the tragic death of so many Canadian soldiers. I'll always remember him as an excellent teacher

who made the world a better place by his positive attitude and caring ways. I am very sorry for your loss.

~

Mary Dempster

November-02-17

Annie........my heart goes out to you and your family.......what a wonderful person Reg was.......will always remember the dins/laughs we shared as friends.....you are in our prayers.....

~

Ellen Mahony,

Pickering, Ontario

November-02-17

Anne, Our encounter meeting you and Reg was short. However, he made an impression in our lives. We are blessed to have been part of the ripple in his lake of joy that was passed to all who met him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult period. Hugs, Robert and Dorothy Green.

~

Dorothy Green,

Atascadero, California

November-02-17

I'm so sorry to hear of Reg's passing. As a YRDSB teaching colleague I knew Reg to be a kind and caring man. He will be missed.

~

Pam Turnbull,

Markham, Ontario

November-02-17

Anne, I was so sorry to hear of Reg's passing. He was such a champ at the IHS reunions. ~Hugs, Amy Higgons D'Elia

November-02-17

Dear Anne, Elizabeth and Tim,

Reg made the world a better place. He was a wonderful person and he will be greatly missed. Sending our sympathy and love.

~

Linda and Milan Vukelich,

Timmins, Ontario

November-02-17

It was with sadness I heard of Reg's passing. He loved square dancing. My love to Anne in this time of grief.

He's dancing with the angels.

~

Sue Robinson,

Toronto, Ontario

November-02-17

My deepest sympathy. Reg had the truest kindest heart and his smile could light up a room. He will truly be missed.

Catherine Dallen

November-02-17

My support and well wishes to all of the O'Brien's. To hear of Reg's passing casts a shadow over my life. But Reg certainly seemed to make the most of his time here. He brightened my life and I'm sure many, many, others. I already missed him, but it hurts more now.

~

David Ing,

Ottawa

Contact Me

November-02-17

Anne, Liz and Mike,Tim and Family

Our hearts are heavy to hear this sad news and we are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. Reg was one of the most caring and loving who touched everyone's lives when their paths crossed. Theatre will never be the same without his hearty laughter heard throughout a show. He was a true gentleman and he will missed!

Julie and Nick Butler

~

Julie Foster,

Keswick, Ontario

November-02-17

My deepest sympathy. Reg filled our hearts with such warmth and joy; this is a terrible loss

Catherine Dallen

November-02-17

My deepest sympathies, Anne, Elizabeth, and Tim. I have great memories of Reg from our time teaching English together at Newmarket High School. One year, I had a particularly difficult class. Reg found a poster of Paul Gross as Hamlet and put it up at the back of the class without telling me. So, when I was stressed all I had to do was look at the picture. Every time that I did look at the picture, my stress was eased more by being reminded of Reg's kindness and caring than by looking at a pretty face. He was a wonderful gentle man. He was also a great dancing partner at Prom:)

~

Catherine Belzner,

Pefferlaw, Ontario

November-02-17

My sincere sympathies to you Anne and the rest of your family. I am sure you had a memorable 30 years of love and happiness together. Sincerely Sandra Floras

November-02-17

I have no words. Reg was a wonderful man, and a super actor. I hadn't seen him in about 20 years, but got reacquainted on Facebook. A great loss.

~

Kristine Fortner,

Cambridge, Ontario

November-02-17

Dear Anne, Elizabeth, Tim and family,

Tony and I were truly upset to hear of Reg's passing. He was such a professional in all his career and volunteer work. I will remember the fun we had in theatre productions, his devotion to his family and pets, and his amazing laugh. Please accept our sincere condolences.

Marilyn and Tony Browning

November-02-17

It was with a heavy heart this morning that I read about Reg's passing. I worked with Reg at NHS and remember him fondly as a friendly and helpful colleague, and a dedicated and caring teacher. He was also a true gentleman. This warm and talented man will be deeply missed. My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to Anne and the family at this difficult time.

~

Eldred MacIntyre,

KESWICK, Ontario

November-02-17

Sincere sympathy.

~

Don St. Jean,

Ontario

* * * * * * * * * *

Francis Reginald O’Brien

Obituary

O’BRIEN, Francis Reginald – Reg passed away at home on October 28, 2017 in his 64th year. Beloved husband of 30 years to Anne Currie. Loving father of Elizabeth (Michael) and Timothy (Frances). Lovingly remembered by his brother-in-law, John Pacello, and his sister-in-law, Pat O’Brien, as well as his nephews, John and Dennis, and niece, Becki. Predeceased by his parents, Timothy and Josephine O’Brien, and by his sister, Eileen, and brother, Dennis.

Reg graduated from the University of Western Ontario and began his 33-year teaching career in Hearst, Ontario in September 1979. He spent six years in Northern Ontario and then decided to return south. He taught thousands of students at Huron Heights, Denison, Langstaff and Newmarket High. He started teaching English and Theatre Arts, then moved into English as a Second Language, Media Studies, Special Education and Student Success.

Reg was active in the local community theatre scene, a love that began in high school and continued at Western. He graced the stages of Theatre Aurora, Newmarket Theatre Centre, Queensville Players and Curtain Club as an actor, director and stage manager. He took up square dancing and could do a “spin, chain through” with the best of them. Reg enjoyed gardening and spending time with family and friends at the family cottage in the Almaguin Highlands. He was looking forward with great happiness to the birth of his first grandchild in March 2018.

Reg had many hobbies, including theatre, film, reading, gardening and traveling. Upon retiring in 2012, he began donating his time to volunteering in the local community at places like Southlake hospital, the Newmarket Food Pantry and, most recently, at the SPCA, to name a few. Reg worked out four or five times a week at a local gym where he made life-long friends.

Reg will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Friends may call at the Thompson Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Parkway South (northeast corner of Industrial Parkway and Yonge Street), Aurora, 905-727-5421. Visitations are Monday, November 13, 2017 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 10 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life in the Chapel at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the new Margaret Bahen Hospice in Newmarket or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.thompsonfh-aurora.com