Daniel Charles O'Brien

Survived by loving wife of 46 years Barbara, devoted sons Matthew (Jamie) of Chicago and Christopher (Jessica) of Washington, D.C.; granddaughter, Ellington born Oct. 5th; brother, Jim of Chicago; in-laws Doug (Anne) Henschen, Jon (Jackie) Henschen and Nancy Patrick. Also surviving are 15 nieces and nephews, dear cousins, his "work family" and many friends, including those in his Worthington neighborhood of 29 years who have been so helpful to the family over the past 18 months.

Preceded in death by parents, sister Kathleen and brother John.

Dan enjoyed a 37-yr. career in truck leasing sales management, the last 20 with Paccar Leasing of Bellevue, Wash. Known best for his nationwide sales network, his love of mentoring and training salespeople and his countless stories. As a former yacht broker, Dan had piloted boats through the Erie Canal and into dozens of Great Lakes ports. For 21 summers, he docked his own Chris Craft cabin cruisers at the Catawba Island Club and South Marinas, where he loved spending weekends on Lake Erie. He was also a lifelong model flight enthusiast, including airplanes, rockets and drones, which he enjoyed teaching others to fly.

Born in Philadelphia, PA on January 25, 1949 to Jack and Gert O'Brien. Grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ, Wellesley, MA and Lake Forest, IL, where he graduated from high school in 1967. A proud Northwestern University graduate with a B.S. in Speech in 1971, the same year he married fellow NU student Barbara. He was a 25-year member of First Community Church, where he taught Sunday School and was part of Friendship Circle #35. He also served as Scoutmaster for Worthington Boy Scout Troop #333.

Family will receive friends at SCHOEDINGER WORTHINGTON CHAPEL, 6699 N. High Street, from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. Services at First Community Church, 1320 Cambridge Blvd., in Columbus at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 19, 2017 with burial to follow at Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dan's name can be made to The V Foundation for Cancer Research at jimmyv.org.