Dr. D. Brian O'Brien

Dr. D. Brian O’Brien, 93, passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. A skilled eye surgeon, entrepreneur, artist, musician and family man, Brian lived a remarkable life of service that impacted so many and he will be profoundly missed.

Brian is survived by his wife of 67 years, Florence (MacDonald), whose support enabled his considerable achievements in medicine, education, business and community over several decades. He is also survived by their five children: Dr. Dan O’Brien (Carole Ann Miller), Erin O’Brien Edmonds (Tim), Carolyn Feindel (Michael), Dr. Kathleen O’Brien (Denis Morris) and Eileen Reardon (Don). Brian was a proud grandfather to 12 grandchildren: Matthew and Patrick Edmonds (Michelle), Lauren Feindel (Matt Merriam) and Katie Rowe (Nick), Daniel, Siobhan and Dr. Michael Morris, Dr. Meggie Shannon (Patrick) and Brian Reardon (Breanna), Kelly, Erin and Rebecca O’Brien. Brian was an especially delighted great grandfather to four: James Merriam, Harrison Rowe, Maeve and Mairi Shannon. The eldest of four children himself, he is also survived by his loving siblings: Kevin of Antigonish and Sylvia and husband Don Smith of Saint John, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Marie McIsaac, her husband Bertram, his sister-in-law Sandra O’Brien and his beloved parents Dan and Margaret O’Brien.

Brian was the eldest son of Dan and Margaret who taught him the value of hard work and instilled in him a deep faith. He left home at age 16 for St. Francis Xavier University where he was warmly welcomed and became an integral member of that close-knit community. These formative and happy years cemented his life-long commitment to St. FX. He was both Class President and winner of the prestigious Meech Memorial award for freshman of the year, an honour bestowed to his grandson, Matthew, 57 years later. Brian later served as a member of the St. FX Board of Governors and Vice-President of the Alumni Association. He remained a most loyal fan of its sports teams to his last years.

At Dalhousie University Medical School in 1952, Brian was awarded the John Cameron anatomy prize; an achievement also attained by his daughter, Kathy, decades later. Following medical school, he set up practice in Shediac, New Brunswick, where he taught himself French so he could work effectively in the rural, francophone community. His was truly a community practice and served the full life spectrum of his patients, from home births to attending end of life, as a coroner. Brian’s storytelling skills were legendary and particularly captivated the grandchildren with his adventure, humour, and shared learning from those early years. Brian and Florence had their first three children while living in Shediac. They then moved to Montreal where he completed an ophthalmology residency at the Royal Victoria Hospital, and they welcomed two more children, the last of whom came quickly, and he delivered himself! In 1964, he completed a Retinal Fellowship at Saint Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, studying with an innovator in his field. Brian then chose Halifax as the place to bring his leading-edge skills and raise his children, together with Florence.

Brian was a leader in developing modern treatment of eye disease in Atlantic Canada, being the first surgeon to repair retinal detachments and use laser to repair retinal tears. He operated into his late sixties and was renowned for spending countless nights and weekends in the operating room. He rescued patients from visual impairment and blindness, and significantly improved the quality of life for many, thanks to the full scope of his medical knowledge, skill and tenacity. Hundreds of ophthalmologists, practicing near and far, also benefitted from his teaching. He once said that one of the most fulfilling aspects of his work was practicing alongside his son Dan, in service of the thousands of patients they treated.

Brian was an ardent advocate for improving the quality of medical care in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the Board of Examiners for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, President of the Medical Society of Nova Scotia, President of the Medical Staff of the Halifax Infirmary and a member of the Canadian Medical Association’s Political Action Committee, among other advocacy positions.

Brian worked his way through all his years of education, developing a unique pattern of hands-on entrepreneurship which continued throughout his life. His businesses were varied and many and he had a second full career in real estate. He employed many Nova Scotians in both his medical practice and various businesses over the years and was always committed to keeping them retained through economic downturns, because in his view, it was the right thing to do.

Brian was an exceptionally creative visionary, a gifted pianist (with his own radio show at CJFX) a beautiful artist and gardener. Brian’s great passion for his Irish heritage came from his paternal grandfather, who taught him to never forget who he was and where he came from. This fueled his 60-year membership in the Charitable Irish Society, where he served as President, chaired its Cultural Grants Committee, and co-founded the Holy Cross Cemetery and Historical Trusts.

In his retirement, Brian championed the effort to restore Holy Cross Cemetery, Halifax’s richest source of Irish history and resting place of many of the city’s founders. Since 2008, he raised funds and awareness, galvanized volunteers to restore thousands of headstones as well as the cemetery’s chapel, which was built in a day in 1843. The project secured and beautified the grounds and documented the cemetery’s gravestones for genealogical research. This typically unfolded Saturday mornings, spring through fall, for more than a decade where Brian led his team of volunteers. Brian was recognized for this labour of love with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Community Service Award from the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax. Despite his many achievements and accolades, Brian was a humble man who preferred to live his life under the radar. What he found most gratifying, was the camaraderie that developed among the dedicated group of volunteers who worked alongside him at Holy Cross and became true friends.

Brian believed deeply that education, hard work and life-long learning was the route to purpose and fulfillment and his reason for being was family. To honour his parents, he established the Dan and Margaret O’Brien Bursary Fund in 1988 at St. FX for students in need. To honour his deep appreciation for his heritage, he created the O’Brien Award in Irish Studies in 2002 at Saint Mary’s University. Brian supported the post-secondary education of each of his five children and 12 grandchildren, all of whom were inspired by the compelling example of his values and have all made their way into helping professions. Brian received two honorary degrees for his commitment to education and community service: a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from St. FX in 2010 and a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, from Saint Mary’s University in 2015.

Brian’s children and grandchildren are so grateful for the example of both Florence and Brian. They recognize that people of service like Brian cannot contribute the full scope of their gifts without the support and sacrifice of their spouses. Their father’s considerable charm and capacity, as well as his formidable determination to achieve all he did, sometimes against the odds, were a model to them. Each had their own special relationship with him, often with an affectionate nickname to match!

In recent years, Brian bore his illness with grace and was a model patient for his devoted caregivers, for whom we are so grateful: Jean MacLean, Laurie O’Brien, Mary Fawson, Nadja Tobaso and Barbara McManus. We wish to recognize his physician and friend of many years Dr. Ernest Johnson. We wish to express our deep appreciation to the many men and women who shared in his passion for the Holy Cross restoration. We are so thankful for Father Owen Connolly for his visits to Brian and the comfort it brought him.

Brian’s life will be celebrated with a Funeral Mass at 11 am on Saturday, March 1st at Saint Agnes Church, Mumford Road, Halifax, with Father Paul Morris, celebrant and Father Patrick Salah, con-celebrant and a reception to follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to the Holy Cross Historical Trust: 3528 Purcells Cove Rd, Fergusons Cove, NS B3V1G3.

Please follow the livestream link posted below to hear the eulogy written by Brian's son Dan.